| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Assembleia Nacional Popular / National People's Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to) | 28 March 2004
30 March 2004 |
| Purpose of elections |
The elections were the first to be held since Parliament was dissolved on 14 September 2003 following a coup-d'état. General elections had previously been held in November 1999. |
The elections were intended to mark a return to democracy. Guinea-Bissau had been run by transitional institutions since 14 September 2003, when a bloodless military coup overthrew the regime of President Kumba Yala, an elected civilian. Twelve parties and three coalitions took part in the elections. The international community donated US$ 90,000 to fund election campaigns.
Some 99 observers from several international organisations and seven countries monitored the election. The National Election Commission (CNE) had registered 605,018 voters.
Voting was initially scheduled to take place only on 28 March. The election was eventually held over two days, on 28 and 30 March, owing to organisational problems reported by all parties. The voting, which began with much delay on 28 March, was orderly and continued all day with no major incidents. In some places where the voting material had still not arrived by pollings were scheduled to close, voters got tired of waiting and blocked roads in frustration, which led to the intervention of the armed forces. However, there were no reports of deaths or injuries.
In the capital, Bissau, international observers noted irregularities that kept some voters from casting their ballots. None the less, they considered that despite those irregularities, the elections were "free, fair and impartial".
The turnout rate was 74.37 per cent, much higher than in the previous legislative elections, held in 1999.
The final results showed the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), formerly the country's single party, in first place, with a relative majority of 45 seats out of 102. The Social Renovation Party (PRS), former President Kumba Yala's party, came in second, with 35 seats. The Social Democratic United Party (PUSD) took 17 seats; the Electoral Union, a coalition of five small parties, obtained two, and the United Popular Alliance (a coalition of two parties) won one. The last two seats, which are reserved for Guinea-Bissau citizens living overseas, were not filled, as those nationals were exempted from the voting by the national
authorities.
The National Assembly was sworn in on 7 May 2004. Mr. Francisco Benante was elected Speaker.
|
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 (from/to) | 28 March 2004
30 March 2004 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
605'018
449'924 (74.37%)
169
449'755 |
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) |
|
141'455 |
|
|
31.45 |
|
|
| Party for Social Renovation (PRS) |
|
111'354 |
|
|
24.76 |
|
|
| Social Democratic United Party (PUSD) |
|
72'362 |
|
|
16.09 |
|
|
| Electoral Union |
|
18'253 |
|
|
4.06 |
|
|
| United Popular Alliance |
|
5'776 |
|
|
1.28 |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) |
45
|
|
|
|
|
| Party for Social Renovation (PRS) |
35
|
|
|
|
|
| Social Democratic United Party (PUSD) |
17
|
|
|
|
|
| Electoral Union |
2
|
|
|
|
|
| United Popular Alliance |
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
There are two seats reserved for Guinea-Bissau overseas citizens.
Source: O Publico |
A historical Archive of past election results for this chamber can be found on a separate page