The National Transition Council (CNT) of Guinea-Bissau announced that citizens voted in favor of the new Constitution coming into force in Sunday's referendum. Spokesperson Alberto Pinto Lopes stated, at a press conference, that the CNT's conviction is based on projections presented by the National Election Commission, emphasizing that the victory of the "yes" vote is guaranteed among those who participated in the voting.
The National Election Commission reported participation above 50%, although the opposition and civil society organizations had called for a boycott of the vote, which resulted in high abstention. The CNT regretted that the opposition had "misled" citizens with the boycott call and stated it hopes they will be consistent by not participating in the next elections.
Guinean military forces carried out a coup d'état on November 26, removing elected President Umaro Sissoco Embaló from power and getting a new Constitution approved that strengthens the head of State's powers. The opposition considered the referendum a "ceremonial coup d'état" to allow Sissoco Embaló to return to power through new elections scheduled for December 6.
The provisional results of the referendum are expected to be announced on Tuesday by the CNE. The CNT indicated that it will not prevent the participation in the elections of parties that called for the boycott, although they had spent "immense time" discussing who had the legitimacy to propose a new Constitution for the country.
