Portuguese Guinea National Assembly election, 1972

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Indirect elections to a National Assembly were held in the parts of Portuguese Guinea held by the rebel African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) between August and October 1972,[1] but not in the Portuguese-controlled areas of Bissau, Bolama, the Bijagós Islands and Bafatá.[2]

A single list of PAIGC candidates for Regional Councils was approved by 97% of voters with a 93.4% turnout.[3] The number of people voting was approximately 32% of the voting-age population.[4]

Electoral system

Voters elected 273 members of 11 regional councils. The elected councillors then convened to elect 91 members of the 120-seat National Assembly. The remaining 29 seats were to represent the four regions still under Portuguese control, and these members were chosen by the PAIGC.[1]

The elections took six weeks, with ballot papers carried around the country on foot. The ballot papers had been printed in neighbouring Guinea.

Results

Choice Votes %
For75,16397.0
Against2,3523.0
Total77,515100
Source: Nohlen et al.

Aftermath

The new National Assembly met for the first time in Boe on 24 September 1973.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Michael Cowen & Liisa Laakso (2002) Multi-party Elections in Africa, James Currey Publishers, p108
  2. Elections in Guinea-Bissau African Elections Database
  3. Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p466 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
  4. Michael Cowen & Liisa Laakso, p109