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🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire /Elections & Politics

Guinea-Bissau: Vote counting begins after low turnout in constitutional referendum

From Fraternité Matin · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Guinea-Bissau began counting ballots after a constitutional referendum proposed by the junta in power since November.
  • The reform would replace the country’s semi-parliamentary system with a strong presidential system, while the electoral commission reported 55% turnout despite visibly limited participation at many polling stations.
  • Preliminary results could emerge Tuesday, with the opposition describing turnout as low and a commission spokesman calling it reasonable.

Ballot counting began in Guinea-Bissau on Sunday after polls closed in a constitutional referendum promoted by the junta that has governed the country since November. Voters were asked to approve or reject a reform that would move Guinea-Bissau from a semi-parliamentary system to a strong presidential one.

The transition authorities have described the existing system as unstable. But turnout appeared limited at many polling stations during the day, even as the electoral commission announced a participation rate of 55 percent.

reasonable

· Electoral commission spokesmanThe spokesman’s assessment of participation around midday differed from the opposition’s description.

Polling stations closed at 5 p.m. local time, and counting then got underway. A source within the electoral commission said results could be known on Tuesday. Around midday, a commission spokesman called participation “reasonable,” while the opposition described it as “low.”

In the capital, Bissau, rain fell throughout the morning and voters arrived at polling stations in small numbers, according to the report.

low

· OppositionThe opposition characterized turnout around midday as limited.
About this summary

Originally published by Fraternité Matin in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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