A legislative election was held in Guinea-Bissau on March 28, 2004. The election had been repeatedly postponed due to political and financial chaos in the country, and due to the coup d'état which overthrew President Kumba Ialá in September 2003.
The former ruling party, the African Party of Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), won the largest number of seats (45) but did not win a majority. Former President Yala's party, the Party for Social Renovation (PRS), came second with 35 seats. The PAIGC reached an agreement with the PRS for its legislative support (a previous attempt at reaching a deal with the United Social Democratic Party, which won 17 seats, failed), and in May the new parliament was sworn in, with PAIGC leader Carlos Gomes Júnior becoming prime minister.[1][2]
Although voting reportedly took place on time in the interior of Guinea-Bissau, it was delayed in much of Bissau, the capital, as electoral materials were delivered late to many polling stations. The National Electoral Commission ordered the polling stations that opened late to remain open past the scheduled end of voting to ensure that everyone would have a chance to vote. About a third of polling stations in Bissau reportedly never opened on the day of the election, and these stations were ordered to open on the following day, March 29.[3]