Vote count starts in Guinea-Bissau referendum on strengthening presidency

Ballot counting is underway in Guinea-Bissau's referendum on a new constitution that would significantly boost the presidency's power. Citizens voted on Sunday on a new constitution that would reform the political system ahead of elections later this year. Turnout exceeded 55 percent and the poll took place without incidents, according to Idrissa Djalo, executive secretary of the National Electoral Commission. Results are expected on Tuesday. The referendum comes less than 10 months after a military coup. The military government says it seeks to stabilize institutions before presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for December 6, designed to hand power back to a civilian government. The new constitution would switch Guinea-Bissau's political system from parliamentary to presidential, abandoning the system where prime ministers came from the parliamentary majority. It would allow the head of state to appoint and dismiss the prime minister and members of the government, and to dissolve parliament. Voters answered yes or no to the question: 'Do you agree with the entry into force of the new constitution approved by the National Transitional Council?' Military leader and transitional President General Horta Inta-A Na Man said: 'What we want after this referendum is to allow whoever wins the elections to see out their mandate without hindrance.' Under the transitional charter, Inta-A Na Man is barred from running in elections. The referendum follows years of political instability, including the November 2025 presidential election where both candidates declared victory and accused each other of electoral interference, leading to a coup the next day.