AFRICA/GUINEA BISSAU - Bishops of Guinea Bissau issue statement after elections: “Electorate demonstrated maturity. Political leaders, take a lesson from the people!”

Thursday, 1 April 2004

Bissau (Fides Service)- The voters showed great civic maturity although the organisation left much to be desired. This was the gist of a Message issued by the Catholic Bishops of Guinea Bissau after political elections on Sunday 28 March. Due to lack of organisation 89 of the 520 booths remained closed and people in those areas had to wait until two days later to cast their vote on March 30.
“Voters showed great civic maturity and by placing their vote they showed their confidence in the political class and demonstrated that they have acquired a profound spirit of democracy” the Bishops say. “We know that democracy is a process of learning and as such it can be improved. Not everything was perfect there were some minor errors mainly in the organisation. In future these error must be corrected. But we are certain that these elements did not affect the essential quality of the electoral process seeing that the majority of eligible voters placed their votes ”.
The Bishops call on politicians to learn from the behaviour of the electorate: “we ask the political class to have the same democratic maturity and love of country, the same spirit of sacrifice demonstrated by the people who went to vote. We ask all political groups to accept the results. At this point it is important to look to the future and to work to rebuild the country allowing democratic institutions to work in view of a more organised society with more solidarity and in greater harmony with our partners for development and with the international ”.
“The Bishops’ statement comes at a time when people need to be calmed down after declarations by the head of one of the main parties the PRS” Father Davide Sciocco, director of Radio Mansoa told Fides. “The official results have not been announced yet but according to the press the winner is the PAIGC party which led the country to independence from Portugal, which is said to have gained 50% of the votes. In second place there is the PRS and third PUSD, which has accepted defeat”.
The head of the PRS appealed to the people ,calling those who were unable to vote to take to the streets in protest ” Father Sciocco told Fides. “No one listened to him but the statement did create tension. Both the President and the Army Chief have appealed for calm. The Bishops rightly wished to add their voices also because international observers said the vote was free and transparent. The small number of voters who were unable to place their vote would not change the results ”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 1/472004, righe 43 parole 515)


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