2019 Guinea-Bissau parliamentary election explained

Country:Guinea-Bissau
Previous Election:2014
Next Election:2023
Election Date:10 March 2019
Party1:African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde
Leader1:Domingos Simões Pereira
Percentage1:35.22
Last Election1:57
Seats1:47
Party3:Madem G15
Leader3:Braima Camará
Percentage3:21.07
Last Election3:new
Seats3:27
Party2:Party for Social Renewal
Leader2:Alberto M'bunhe Nambeia
Percentage2:21.10
Last Election2:41
Seats2:21
Party4:APU–PDGB
Leader4:Nuno Gomes Nabiam
Colour4:
  1. 0854CC
Percentage4:8.47
Last Election4:new
Seats4:5
Party5:PND
Leader5:Mamadú Iaia Djaló
Colour5:
  1. 1a6cae
Percentage5:1.50
Last Election5:1
Seats5:1
Party6:UM
Leader6:Agnelo Regalla
Color6:
  1. 006600
Percentage6:1.42
Last Election6:1
Seats6:1
Map:2019 Guinea-Bissau legislative election - Results by constituency.svg
Prime Minister
Before Election:Aristides Gomes
Before Party:Republican Party for Independence and Development
After Election:Aristides Gomes
After Party:Republican Party for Independence and Development

Parliamentary elections were held in Guinea-Bissau on 10 March 2019.[1] They were originally scheduled for 18 November 2018 following an ECOWAS brokered agreement between President José Mário Vaz and the opposition in April 2018,[2] but the electoral census was not completed until 20 November, and Prime Minister Aristides Gomes subsequently proposed 16 December, 30 December, or 27 January 2019 as possible alternative dates.[3] The election date was settled following a presidential decree issued in December 2018.[4]

The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) won 47 of the 102 seats and remained the largest party. Although its loss of ten seats resulted in a hung parliament, pre-election agreements with the Assembly of the People United (five seats), the New Democracy Party (one seat) and the Union for Change (one seat) gave the PAIGC-led coalition a six-seat majority in the National People's Assembly.[5]

Electoral system

The 102 members of the National People's Assembly were elected by two methods; 100 by closed list proportional representation from 27 multi-member constituencies and two from single-member constituencies representing expatriate citizens in Africa and Europe.[6]

Conduct

Election day was peaceful, with President Vaz stating "no-one has been killed, no fights, no coup, without random arrests and without political prisoners. Instead, there is freedom of expression and the right to assemble." Voter turnout was reportedly high.[7]

Aftermath

Following the elections, deputy President Domingos Simões Pereira of the PAIGC was initially proposed as the new Prime Minister. However, President Vaz refused to appoint him following a breakdown in relations between the two. The deadlock was finally lifted in late June 2019, when the incumbent Aristides Gomes was reappointed.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Guinea-Bissau legislative polls slated for March 2019 – Presidency. 2018-12-20. Africanews. 2019-01-15.
  2. http://french.peopledaily.com.cn/Afrique/n3/2018/0417/c96852-9450178.html Guinée-Bissau : les élections législatives auront lieu le 18 novembre 2018
  3. Web site: Guinée-Bissau : selon Domingos Simões Pereira, du PAIGC, " le président Vaz ne veut pas des élections législatives ". 2018-11-02. JeuneAfrique.com. fr-FR. 2019-01-15.
  4. Web site: Guinea-Bissau legislative polls slated for March 2019 – Presidency. 2018-12-20. Africanews. 2019-01-15.
  5. https://www.dw.com/pt-002/ao-minuto-paigc-vence-elei%C3%A7%C3%B5es-na-guin%C3%A9-bissau/a-47883308 ++ Ao minuto: PAIGC vence eleições na Guiné-Bissau ++
  6. http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2133_B.htm Electoral system
  7. Web site: Guinea-Bissau Elects a New Parliament. VOA. en. 2019-03-11.