Portugal’s PS Warns of Guinea-Bissau Democratic Crisis
Portugal’s Socialist Party (PS) has voiced “increased concern” over the deteriorating political landscape in Guinea-Bissau, calling for an immediate return to democratic normality and the rule of law. The statement follows a high-level meeting in Lisbon between PS leadership and a delegation of Guinean political figures led by Domingos Simões Pereira.
A Crisis of Democracy
In a telephone interview with Lusa, Socialist MP Luís Testa described the current situation in the West African nation as “absolutely extraordinary” from a democratic perspective. The meeting served as a briefing on the recent political upheaval, which has seen constitutional principles sidelined and political freedoms curtailed.
“It is no secret to anyone that Guinea-Bissau is not experiencing a moment of normality,” Testa said, emphasizing that the PS is deeply troubled by the “events, data, and details” shared by the Guinean delegation. He stressed the urgent need to preserve the relationship between the State, its citizens, and political organizations under the framework of a constitutional democracy.
United Opposition Against Military Rule
The meeting included not only the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) but also representatives from the Guinean Democratic Movement and the Movement for Democratic Alternation (Madem-G15). Testa noted that this broad participation signals a movement that now extends far beyond a single party.
“This has become a movement that goes far beyond the PAIGC, even though it is led by Domingos Simões Pereira as a pivotal figure,” Testa maintained. While the PS reiterated its commitment to human rights and democratic values, Testa clarified that the party does not intend to interfere in Guinea-Bissau’s internal sovereign affairs.
A History of Turmoil
Guinea-Bissau has been in the grip of political instability since November 26, 2025, when the military seized power, dissolved parliament, and established a National Transition Council (CNT). The opposition has branded the takeover a “palace coup” orchestrated by former President Umaro Sissoco Embaló after the November 23 elections were interrupted before results could be released.
The military-led government has since amended the Constitution to consolidate presidential power. Guineans are scheduled to vote in a controversial referendum on these changes on August 30, just months before general elections set for December 6.
The Plight of the Opposition
The crackdown on dissent has been severe. PAIGC leader Domingos Simões Pereira, who also serves as the elected president of the Guinean parliament, was arrested during the November coup and held in various forms of detention before being allowed to travel to Portugal for medical treatment. He remains under investigation by a military court for an alleged coup attempt in October 2025—a charge his supporters dismiss as politically motivated.
As the August 30 referendum approaches, the international community and parties like the PS are watching closely, urging a peaceful transition back to the constitutional order that has been absent since the military intervention.
Image: Pexels – Thuong D
