Bissau-Guineans agree to choose a consensual Prime Minister and reform the constitution

URL: http://uniogbis.unmissions.org/en/bissau-guineans-agree-choose-consensual-prime-minister-and-reform-constitution

UNIOGBIS, 21 Oct 2016

Conakry/Bissau, 14 October (UNIOGBIS / PIU) - After four days of talks in Conakry, the main actors in the Guinea-Bissau have agreed to a "consensual procedure of choosing a Prime Minister who the President of the Republic will thrust.” The Speaker of the People's National Assembly, the Prime Minister, the PAIGC, PRS, PND, PCM, UM, religious leaders and representatives of civil society attended the meeting in Conakry. Gathered in the Guinean capital at the invitation of ECOWAS Mediator the Guinean President, Alpha Conde, Bissau-Guineans signed a nine-point agreement which recommends that a Prime Minister, agreed by all parties, will remain in office until the next parliamentary elections in 2018. The agreement also provides for the formation of an inclusive Government through a consensually negotiated scheme with all the political parties represented in the National Assembly, on the principle of their proportional representation; as well as the possibility of appointing in the inclusive Government independent personalities and civil society representatives. Also according to the final communiqué, the inclusive Government will implement a program developed by a national dialogue round table within thirty days of the appointment of the Prime Minister. The development and adoption by the national dialogue round table of a Stability Pact signed by the main political and social forces, articulating a number of principles, including the reform of the constitution to establish stable relations between the executive, legislative and judiciary; reform of the electoral law for the organization coupled legislative and local elections in 2018; the reform of the defense sector, security and justice. Also accepted, the principle of an effective reintegration of 15 dissident MPs within the PAIGC, without conditions, in accordance with the laws in force within the PAIGC. By allying the Party for Social Renewal (PRS then in opposition), these 15 MPs caused the loss of its majority to the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde and Guinea (PAIGC) in parliament. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Guinea-Bissau, Modibo Touré took part in the talks in Conakry as well as his counterparts from ECOWAS and the African Union based in Bissau.