Political parties are blamed for the crisis but they attribute it to poverty

Bissau, 25 May 2016 (UNIOGBIS / PIU) - Despite the transition to multiparty system in 1994, political parties, whose number reaches about 20, are often seen as the responsible for political and institutional instability that has been dragging for decades in the country, preventing its development. Evidence of this is the fact that to date, no elected government has remained in office for a full four-year term.

30 May 2016

Political parties are blamed for the crisis but they attribute it to poverty

Political scientist and INEP researcher, Rui Jorge Semedo, explains that "the political problems facing the country today have their primary causes on the current political context of the PAIGC, but much more than that, it is a problem that comes far from the independence of the Guinea-Bissau and it has been unable to work to strengthen its institutions." Individuals have always been put at the first place instead of institutions."

 "When the country was entering political pluralism, many people thought that the creation of various political formations could come as a means for actors to support their ambitions, dreams and everything. So the political party has become an element in the political market for access to public offices. And every time a party is likely to access to power through an election, we assist to an unbridle rush of people to join this group or a candidate," he said.

Julião Lopes Mané, Political Affairs officer at UNIOGBIS recalled that in any society "political parties play a central role in the articulation and aggregation of interests of citizens through their electoral and governance programs, as well as serving as a link between citizens and the State, through elected representatives at the Parliament. But political parties’ role is also to educate citizens on democratic culture in a democratic state and encourage the practice of culture of tolerance."

These are the values ​​that the Party for Social Renewal (PRS, opposition), the second largest political force in the country professes in its manifesto. "The PRS is a political party bringing together Democrats with diverse backgrounds, orientations, united in a common purpose, to contribute to the renewal of governance in Guinea-Bissau with a view to building a new society - fair, free, dignity and solidarity. At last elections (2014) the PRS has emerged as the first opposition to the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC).

Ali Injazi Feito, national secretary for the PAIGC argues that political parties should "aim at the welfare of the community or society in general, and should never prioritize self-interest." However he recognizes that it is a bit complicated to do politics in Guinea-Bissau, "because there are many interests that compete with the main purpose of a political party. I mean, in the pursuit of personal interests the risks are huge, including intrigues, slanders, calumnies," he said.

In its constitution, Guinea-Bissau is defined as a sovereign, democratic, secular and unitary with national sovereignty embodied by the people. The people exert political power by electing directly their representatives through a competitive process. The creation of political parties is free under the Constitution and the law, and political parties are called upon to contribute to the organization and expression of the popular will and political pluralism.