The dissolution of parliament, announced by the President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, is a “gross violation of the Constitution”, according to the Guinean League of Human Rights, which condemned the president’s decision this Monday.
In its statement, the national leadership of the League emphasizes that “under the terms of paragraph 1 of article 94 of the Constitution of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, the National People’s Assembly cannot be dissolved within 12 months after elections, during the last half of the term of office of the President of the Republic or during a state of siege or state of emergency.” .
The President of the Republic of Guinea, Umaro Sissoko Embalo, announced today that he decided to dissolve the National People’s Assembly, elected on June 4, about six months ago, following events that began with the arrest of Finance Minister Suleiman. Seidi and Finance Minister António Monteiro, culminating in military clashes in the early hours of December 1st.
The Guinea Human Rights League emphasizes “the seriousness of this act and its catastrophic political, social and economic consequences for the country,” “unconditionally condemning the presidential decree announcing the proposed dissolution of parliament, as it constitutes a gross violation of the Constitution.” Republic of Guinea-Bissau”.
In a statement, the organization warns the President of the Republic, “as guarantor of the Constitution, of the consequences of his insistence on maintaining in force a presidential decree that is killing democracy and the rule of law in Guinea-Bissau.”
“In a democracy, the principle of the rule of law prevails, that is, the law represents the limit and basis of all government decisions. Therefore, the powers of all sovereign bodies, in particular the President of the Republic, exist as functional powers, mandatory compliance if it follows from the law,” he adds.
The League emphasizes in its statement that “the Constitution expressly and definitively establishes the period during which Parliament cannot be dissolved, with a view to ensuring a minimum period of institutional stability regarding the legitimate expression of the popular will, and to ensure that this representative body of the people is not manipulated for the purpose of absolutely unrelated to the interests of the nation.”
The national leadership of this civil organization “with great alarm and surprise” notes the announcement of the President of the Republic and expresses “a firm determination to fight for the uncompromising defense of the axiological principles of democracy and the rule of law.”
He also rejects the incursion of armed men into state media, which he says has the “purpose of restricting freedom of the press and expression,” and demands “their immediate removal,” alluding to the occupation of public radio and television by armed forces. staff and eviction from employee premises.
Finally, the League calls on “the defense and security forces to remain equidistant from political-institutional disputes, observing only the requirements of the Constitution and other laws in force in the country.”
The President of Guinea-Bissau, Oumaro Sissoko Embalo, decided this Monday to dissolve parliament after clashes on Thursday and Friday between security forces, which he regarded as a coup.
The President of the Republic made this decision after a meeting of the State Council.
Sissoko Embalo considered it a “coup d’etat” when the National Guard removed Finance Minister Suleiman Seidi and Finance Minister António Monteiro from judicial police cells on Thursday evening.
After this act, armed clashes arose between the National Guard and the Presidential Battalion, which were settled with the intervention of the military police and led to the arrest of the commander of the National Guard, Vitor Chongo.
Immediately after the statement of the President of the Republic, a strong military presence was noticed on the streets of the city of Bissau, which was no longer visible at night.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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