2006 Gabonese parliamentary election explained

Country:Gabon
Previous Election:2001
Election Date:17 December 2006
Next Election:2011
Seats For Election:All 120 seats in the National Assembly
Majority Seats:61
Nopercentage:yes
Party1:Gabonese Democratic Party
Last Election1:86
Seats1:82
Party2:National Woodcutters' Rally – Rally for Gabon
Last Election2:8
Seats2:8
Party3:Union of the Gabonese People
Last Election3:0
Seats3:8
Seats4:4
Last Election4:New
Party5:Democratic and Republican Alliance
Seats5:3
Last Election5:3
Party6:Circle of Liberal Reformers
Seats6:2
Last Election6:2
Party7:Gabonese Progress Party
Seats7:2
Last Election7:3
Party8:Social Democratic Party (Gabon)
Seats8:2
Last Election8:1
Seats9:1
Last Election9:1
Party10:African Forum for Reconstruction
Seats10:1
Last Election10:0
Seats11:1
Last Election11:1
Seats12:1
Last Election12:1
Seats13:1
Last Election13:New
Party14:Independents
Leader14:
Seats14:4
Last Election14:12

Parliamentary elections were held in Gabon on 17 December 2006, although voting in seven seats took places on 24 December 2006 due to logistical problems. The ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) won 82 seats, with other parties that supported President Omar Bongo winning another seventeen seats, among them the National Woodcutters' Rally of Paul M'ba Abessole with seven seats (M'ba Abessole himself lost his seat, being defeated by the prime minister, Jean Eyeghe Ndong),[1] the Democratic and Republican Alliance with three seats, the Circle of Reformist Liberals with two seats and the Social Democratic Party with one seat.

Opposition parties won seventeen seats; the Union of the Gabonese People won eight seats, the Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development four, the Gabonese Progress Party two seats, the Congress for Democracy and Justice one seat, the African Forum for Reconstruction one seat and the National Woodcutters Rally-Kombila one seat.

Independents won four seats.[2] [3]

Results

The National Woodcutters' Rally – Rally for Gabon, Democratic and Republican Alliance, Circle of Liberal Reformers, Social Democratic Party, African Development Movement and Rally of Republican Democrats were all supportive of the PDG.

Aftermath

In 20 constituencies, the results were annulled by the Constitutional Court because of problems with fraud and logistics, and the election was held again in these constituencies on 10 June 2007. Turnout was reported to be low.[4] The PDG won in 11 of these constituencies, with its allies winning a further six, the opposition winning two and an independent winning one.[5]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=495960 "Media predicts waning popularity for Gabonese opposition leader"
  2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6202995.stm "Bongo's party wins Gabon election"
  3. http://www.infosplusgabon.com/article.php3?id_article=921 "Proclamation officielle des résultats des élections législatives par la Cour constitutionnelle"
  4. http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20070610220323134C636547 "Poll re-run draws few voters in Gabon"
  5. http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20070613220621178C763057 "Gabon's ruling party increases hold on power"