Guinea-Bissau opposition calls for boycott of constitutional referendum

Guinea-Bissau’s opposition PAIGC is calling for a boycott of the country’s upcoming constitutional referendum.

The August 30 vote will determine whether a new Constitution approved by the National Transitional Council will enter into force.

The army seized power in November, just days after a presidential election, overthrowing the head of state and suspending the electoral process.

New elections aimed at restoring civilian power will take place in December but voters will first be asked whether they accept the amendments.

PAIGC said political parties have been excluded from the process and pointed to what it described as a “clear tendency to rig the process.”

The proposed changes would abandon the parliamentary system and move to a presidential one.

Under the proposal, the president could appoint the prime minister and members of government, and dissolve parliament.