Voters in Guinea-Bissau cast ballots last Sunday to decide on sweeping constitutional changes. The referendum proposes expanding the powers of the presidency and reducing the number of seats in the national legislature before the December general elections.
Weakening the Prime Minister to empower the Presidency
The proposed constitutional changes in Guinea-Bissau aim to fundamentally reshape the nation's executive branch. According to the report, the referendum seeks to grant the president significantly more authority while simultaneously diminishing the role of the prime minister. This move would effectively dismantle the country's existing semipresidential system, where leadership responsibilities were previously shared between the two offices.
The ruling military government in Guinea-Bissau has defended this centralization of power as a necessary step for stability. As the report states, officials argue that the previous shared-power model was a primary driver of political instability. By streamlining executive authority, the government claims it can ensure more effective governance as the nation prepares for its upcoming transition to civilian rule.
Critics, however, warn that these measures could undermine the essential checks and balances required for healthy governance.. By concentrating power in the hands of a single individual, the reforms risk creating an executive that is no longer accountable to the legislative or judicial branches.
Slashing the legislature from 102 to 65 seats
Beyond executive restructuring, the referendum includes a plan to drastically reduce the size of Guinea-Bissau's legislative body. The proposal seeks to cut the number of parliamentary seats from 102 down to just 65. This reduction has drawn sharp criticism from various domestic actors who fear a loss of democratic oversight.
Opposition parties and civil society organizatios in Guinea-Bissau have condemned the seat reduction as a direct attempt to weaken democratic representation . Critics argue that a smaller legislature will be less capable of providing the necessary scrutiny of government actions. In the capital city of Bissau, election officials were observed sorting through ballots as citizens participated in the vote, yet the shadow of the boycott loomed large over the proceedings.
An echo of the November military takeover
The push for these constitutional changes follows a period of intense political volatility in Guinea-Bissau. in November of last year, the nation experienced a military coup when troops seized power following a disputed election. This event plunged the country into a state of uncertainty that continues to influence the current political landscape .
This instability is not unique to Guinea-Bissau but is part of a broader trend across the West African region. since 2020, several neighboring nations have been rocked by military coups, often triggered by political crises or contested election results. Observers suggest that the military government's decision to move forward with the referendum may be an attempt to consolidate its authority before the planned return to civilian governance in December.
The boycott's impact on December's democratic legitimacy
The upcoming general elections in December face significant questions regarding their democratic legitimacy. Because opposition parties called for a boycott of the Sunday referendum, the actual level of public engagement remains unverified. The report notes that while polling stations in Bissau saw citizens casting votes,the widespread boycott could undermine the percevied mandate of the new constitutional order.
Several critical questions remain unanswered as the country moves toward the December polls. It is currently unclear how the reduced legislature will function under the new presidential mandate, or how the military government will manage the transition to civilian rule with such concentrated power. Furthermore, the absence of opposition participation in the referendum leaves a significant gap in the political dialogue required for a stable democratic transition.
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