Guinea-Bissau Approves New Constitution with 70% Vote

On Sunday, a referendum in Guinea-Bissau resulted in the approval of a new constitution, with 70% of voters supporting the reforms while 30% opposed them. The National Electoral Commission reported that nearly 60% of registered voters participated.

The new constitution empowers the president to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet, create or abolish ministries, and dissolve parliament during severe political crises. This marks a significant shift from the existing constitution, which mandates that parliament appoint the prime minister.

The reforms are intended to provide a framework for the military government, which took power in a coup last November, to reshape the political system ahead of the presidential election scheduled for December. The main opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), boycotted the referendum, claiming it lacked adequate political and institutional safeguards.

The new constitution also reduces parliament's size from 102 to 65 seats and requires presidential candidates to have lived in Guinea-Bissau for at least five years prior to elections.