Guinea-Bissau’s main opposition party, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), has called on citizens to boycott the country’s upcoming constitutional referendum, citing concerns over the credibility of the process.
The referendum, scheduled for August 30, will determine whether a new Constitution approved by the National Transitional Council will come into force.
The vote follows the military’s seizure of power in November, days after a presidential election, which resulted in the overthrow of the head of state and the suspension of the electoral process.
Although new elections aimed at restoring civilian rule are scheduled for December, voters will first be asked to decide whether to approve the proposed constitutional amendments.
PAIGC said political parties had been excluded from the constitutional process and accused the authorities of showing a “clear tendency to rig the process.”
The proposed Constitution would fundamentally change the country’s system of government by replacing the parliamentary system with a presidential model.
Under the proposed changes, the president would have the power to appoint the prime minister and members of government, as well as dissolve parliament.
The opposition’s boycott call could further deepen political tensions in the West African country ahead of the December elections.
