Guinea-Bissau referendum backs expanded presidential powers

Guinea-Bissau has voted to give its president far greater control over the government, approving constitutional changes proposed by the military authorities that seized power in last year’s coup. The National Electoral Commission said 70 percent of votes cast supported the new constitution, with turnout close to 60 percent.

The referendum came ahead of a general election scheduled for December, which the military government says will return the country to civilian rule. The authorities argue that the constitutional changes will stabilize key state institutions before voters choose the president and parliament.

The new rules would overturn the current power-sharing arrangement. The president would be able to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet, create and abolish ministries, and dissolve parliament under certain conditions. At present, the prime minister manages day-to-day government and is elected by parliament.

The constitution would also reduce the number of parliamentary seats from 102 to 65 and cut electoral constituencies from 29 to 12. The main opposition party, PAIGC, and civil society groups rejected the vote, saying it threatens the country’s transition back to democracy. PAIGC called for a boycott.

The reported turnout has also drawn scrutiny. International news agencies said polling stations were largely empty, despite the commission’s figure of nearly 60 percent. Critics accuse the military government of reshaping the political system to consolidate its position before the December election, amid a wider wave of military takeovers across West and Central Africa.