Guinea-Bissau approves new constitution that expands presidential powers
Guinea-Bissau has approved a new constitution through a referendum, according to provisional results released on Tuesday. The reforms increase presidential powers and introduce changes to the country’s electoral system ahead of a presidential election scheduled for December.
The West African nation, currently under military rule following a coup in November last year, held the referendum on Sunday. The proposed constitution gives the president authority to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet, establish or scrap ministries, and dissolve parliament in cases of serious political crises.
Under the existing constitution, parliament appoints the prime minister, who is then responsible for forming the cabinet.
The referendum result provides the military authorities with a mandate to overhaul the country’s political system ahead of the December election. However, the main opposition party boycotted the vote.
Provisional figures from the National Electoral Commission showed that 70% of voters backed the new constitution, while 30% voted against it. About 544,060 people participated, representing nearly 60% of registered voters.
Polling stations in the capital, Bissau, were largely deserted on Sunday, according to a Reuters witness. Some residents also told local media they were unaware that the referendum was taking place or did not understand its purpose.
The main opposition PAIGC party had called on its supporters to boycott the referendum, arguing that the process lacked sufficient political and institutional safeguards.
PAIGC leader Domingos Simoes Pereira criticised the initiative, saying its supporters were attempting to undermine the country’s freedom and democracy.
The military government did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The new constitution will reduce the number of parliamentary seats from 102 to 65 and cut electoral constituencies from 29 to 12.
It will also require presidential candidates to have lived continuously in Guinea-Bissau for at least five years before contesting an election.
The approval comes amid a long history of political instability in Guinea-Bissau. The country has experienced repeated military interventions and is widely regarded as a major cocaine trafficking hub in West Africa. The November coup was the ninth military takeover recorded in West and Central Africa over a five-year period.
Source: Reuters
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