Guinea-Bissau voters have approved a new constitution in a referendum, according to provisional results released on Tuesday. The National Electoral Commission reported that 70 percent of voters cast their ballots in favor of the changes.
The sweeping changes significantly expand presidential powers and reshape electoral rules ahead of a presidential election scheduled for December. These revisions include new rules on presidential candidates and a reduction in the number of seats in the legislature. This marks the first constitutional amendment since revisions ended the one-party socialist state more than three decades ago.
Following the approval of these changes, the tiny West African state faces renewed debate over legitimacy, civilian rule, and democratic safeguards.