Voters in Guinea Bissau have approved a new constitution that significantly expands presidential powers, according to provisional results announced by the National Electoral Commission.
The commission said Tuesday that 70% of valid votes cast in the Aug. 30 referendum supported the new constitution, while 30% voted against it. About 544,060 valid votes were recorded, with turnout reported at nearly 60% of registered voters.
The referendum was held less than 10 months after the military seized power following a disputed presidential election. The country is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on Dec. 6 as part of a process intended to return Guinea Bissau to civilian rule.
The constitutional changes will move Guinea Bissau further toward a presidential system by strengthening the authority of the head of state and reducing the role of the prime minister. Under the new framework, the president will be able to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and members of the cabinet, create or abolish ministries and, under specified conditions, dissolve parliament.
The reform will also reduce the size of parliament from 102 seats to 65 and cut the number of electoral constituencies from 29 to 12. Presidential candidates will additionally be required to have lived continuously in Guinea Bissau for at least five years before an election.
The military led by transitional President Gen. Horta Inta A Na Man has argued that the reforms are necessary to address recurring disputes between the president, prime minister and parliament. Supporters say clearer lines of executive authority could help reduce institutional conflict and political instability.
The referendum, however, was opposed by the country’s main opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, or PAIGC. The party urged supporters to boycott the vote, arguing that the process lacked adequate political and institutional safeguards and could further concentrate power in the presidency.
The vote also exposed a divide between the capital and other parts of the country. While the “yes” vote prevailed nationally, the “no” campaign reportedly won in Bissau, where 64,241 voters opposed the constitution compared with 58,957 who supported it, according to figures announced by the electoral commission.
The electoral commission said no formal complaints had been recorded following the vote. Final results are expected to be confirmed through the country’s legal process.
The referendum is a significant step in determining the institutional framework that will govern Guinea Bissau’s return to elected government. The country has experienced repeated coups and political crises since independence, making the balance between executive authority, parliamentary oversight and civilian political participation a central issue ahead of the December elections.
For Guinea Bissau, the implementation of the new constitutional order will therefore be closely watched as the country prepares for its next presidential and parliamentary elections. How the expanded presidential powers are exercised, and whether they are accompanied by effective institutional checks, could influence the stability of the country’s political transition.
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