Guinea-Bissau voters approve new constitution expanding presidential powers
Summary
Voters in Guinea-Bissau approved a new constitution that gives the president more power, ahead of elections planned for December. The changes also reduce parliamentary seats and set new rules for presidential candidates, aiming to bring stability after years of political unrest.Key Facts
- About 70% of voters supported the new constitution in a recent referendum.
- The voter turnout was over 55%, with around 544,060 people voting.
- The new rules cut the number of parliament seats from 102 to 65 and reduce electoral areas from 29 to 12.
- Presidential candidates must live in Guinea-Bissau continuously for at least five years before running.
- This rule mainly affects politicians living outside the country who have strong support.
- Guinea-Bissau has faced many coups since independence in 1974, including military takeover after disputed elections last November.
- The transitional military council hopes the new constitution will help the next president serve without interference.
- The main opposition party boycotted the referendum, calling it unfair and a continuation of the last coup.
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