The National Electoral Commission of Guinea-Bissau reported that 70 percent of voters supported changes in a recent referendum. The referendum approved a new constitution that will significantly enhance presidential powers. The commission stated on Tuesday that the vote took place last week, with a turnout of nearly 60 percent.
The referendum was proposed by the military government, which came to power following a coup in November 2022. This vote precedes a general election scheduled for December, aimed at restoring civilian governance.
The main opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), along with various civil society groups, has condemned the referendum, claiming it jeopardizes Guinea-Bissau's democratic transition. The military government asserts that the constitutional changes are intended to stabilize key state institutions ahead of the upcoming elections, during which both the presidency and parliamentary seats will be contested.
The new constitutional provisions will allow the president to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet, thereby undermining the existing power-sharing arrangement. Additionally, the president will have the authority to create and abolish ministries and dissolve parliament under specific conditions. Currently, the prime minister manages daily operations and is elected by parliament.
The number of parliamentary seats will decrease from 102 to 65, and the number of electoral constituencies will be reduced from 29 to 12. Despite the electoral commission's reported turnout of close to 60 percent, international news agencies noted that polling stations appeared largely empty, and the PAIGC had urged a boycott of the referendum. Critics accuse the military government of trying to consolidate power, enabling the leaders to modify the political landscape to their advantage ahead of the December elections. Concerns about this situation are heightened by a series of military coups in West and Central Africa, with nine such events occurring since 2020, where military leaders have claimed their actions were driven by security concerns and a desire to protect democracy.