The president appoints the provincial governors, the prefects, and the subprefects. ==Political conditions== At the time of Gabon's independence in 1960, two principal political parties existed: the Bloc Democratique Gabonais (BDG), led by Leon M'Ba, and the Union Démocratique et Sociale Gabonaise (UDSG), led by Jean-Hilaire Aubame.
Multi-party legislative elections were held in 1990-91 even though opposition parties had not been declared formally legal. ==Political developments== Under the 1961 constitution (revised in 1975 and rewritten in 1991), Gabon became a republic with a presidential form of government.
In the February 1961 election, held under the new presidential system, M'Ba became president and Aubame foreign minister. This coalition appeared to work until February 1963, when the larger BDG forced the UDSG members to choose between a merger of the parties or resignation.
In the February 1961 election, held under the new presidential system, M'Ba became president and Aubame foreign minister. This coalition appeared to work until February 1963, when the larger BDG forced the UDSG members to choose between a merger of the parties or resignation.
The UDSG cabinet ministers resigned, and M'Ba called an election for February 1964 and a reduced number of National Assembly deputies (from 67 to 47).
When the BDG appeared likely to win the election by default, the Gabonese military toppled M'Ba in a bloodless coup on February 18, 1964.
Late in 1966, the constitution was revised to provide for automatic succession of the vice president should the president die in office.
In March 1967, Leon M'Ba and Omar Bongo (then Albert Bongo) were elected president and vice president.
The Council of Ministers is appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president. President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, in power since 1967 and the longest-serving African head of state, was re-elected to another seven-year term according to poll results returned from elections held on November 27, 2005.
M'Ba died later that year, and Omar Bongo became president. In March 1968, Bongo declared Gabon a one-party state by dissolving the BDG and establishing a new party—the Gabonese Democratic Party.
Multi-party legislative elections were held in 1990-91 even though opposition parties had not been declared formally legal. ==Political developments== Under the 1961 constitution (revised in 1975 and rewritten in 1991), Gabon became a republic with a presidential form of government.
Bongo was elected president in February 1975 and re-elected in December 1979 and November 1986 to seven-year terms.
In April 1975, the office of vice president was abolished and replaced by the office of prime minister, who has no right to automatic succession.
Bongo was elected president in February 1975 and re-elected in December 1979 and November 1986 to seven-year terms.
Bongo was elected president in February 1975 and re-elected in December 1979 and November 1986 to seven-year terms.
Multi-party legislative elections were held in 1990-91 even though opposition parties had not been declared formally legal. ==Political developments== Under the 1961 constitution (revised in 1975 and rewritten in 1991), Gabon became a republic with a presidential form of government.
The government in 1990 made major changes in the political system.
Multi-party legislative elections were held in 1990-91 although opposition parties had not been declared formally legal. After a peaceful transition, the elections produced the first representative, multi-party, National Assembly.
Using the PDG as a tool to submerge the regional and tribal rivalries that have divided Gabonese politics in the past, Bongo sought to forge a single national movement in support of the government's development policies. Opposition to the PDG continued, however, and in September 1990, two coup attempts were uncovered and aborted.
Economic discontent and a desire for political liberalization provoked violent demonstrations and strikes by students and workers in early 1990.
In addition, he promised to open up the PDG and to organize a national political conference in March–April 1990 to discuss Gabon's future political system.
After further review by a constitutional committee and the National Assembly, this document came into force in March 1991. Despite further anti-government demonstrations after the untimely death of an opposition leader, the first multi-party National Assembly elections in almost 30 years took place in September–October 1990, with the PDG garnering a large majority.
Since independence the party system is dominated by the conservative Gabonese Democratic Party. In March 1991 a new constitution was adopted.
Multi-party legislative elections were held in 1990-91 even though opposition parties had not been declared formally legal. ==Political developments== Under the 1961 constitution (revised in 1975 and rewritten in 1991), Gabon became a republic with a presidential form of government.
After approval by the National Assembly, the PDG Central Committee, and the president, the Assembly unanimously adopted the constitution in March 1991.
In January 1991, the Assembly passed by unanimous vote a law governing the legalization of opposition parties.
Under the 1991 constitution, in the event of the president's death, the prime minister, the National Assembly president, and the defense minister share power until a new election is held.
After further review by a constitutional committee and the National Assembly, this document came into force in March 1991. Despite further anti-government demonstrations after the untimely death of an opposition leader, the first multi-party National Assembly elections in almost 30 years took place in September–October 1990, with the PDG garnering a large majority.
The president was re-elected in a disputed election in 1993 with 51% of votes cast.
Although the main opposition parties claimed the elections had been manipulated, there was none of the civil disturbance that followed the 1993 election.
Following President Bongo's re-election in December 1993 with 51% of the vote, opposition candidates refused to validate the election results.
There was no serious civil disorder or protests following the election in contrast to the 1993 election. President Omar Ali Bongo narrowly beat rival Jean Ping in the official results of the Presidential election in 2016.
Social and political disturbances led to the 1994 Paris Conference and Accords, which provided a framework for the next elections.
These talks led to the Paris Accords in November 1994 in which several opposition figures were included in a government of national unity.
Local and legislative elections were delayed until 1996-1997.
This arrangement soon broke down, and the 1996 and 1997 legislative and municipal elections provided the background for renewed partisan politics.
In 1997, constitutional amendments were adopted to create an appointed Senate, the position of Vice President, and to extend the president's term to seven years.
This arrangement soon broke down, and the 1996 and 1997 legislative and municipal elections provided the background for renewed partisan politics.
The PDG won a landslide victory in the legislative election, but several major cities, including Libreville, elected opposition mayors during the 1997 local election.
Facing a divided opposition, President Omar Bongo was re-elected in December 1998, with 66% of the votes cast.
President Bongo coasted to an easy re-election in December 1998 with 66% of the vote against a divided opposition.
In 2003 the President amended the Constitution of Gabon to remove any restrictions on the number of terms a president is allowed to serve.
The Council of Ministers is appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president. President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, in power since 1967 and the longest-serving African head of state, was re-elected to another seven-year term according to poll results returned from elections held on November 27, 2005.
The electoral regulations benefitted President Bongo, according to the Mission's report. ==Executive branch== |President |Ali Bongo Ondimba |Democratic Party |16 October 2009 |- |Prime Minister |Rose Christiane Raponda |Democratic Party |16 July 2020 |} The president is elected by popular vote for a seven-year term.
The president retains strong powers, such as authority to dissolve the National Assembly, declare a state of siege, delay legislation, conduct referendums, and appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet members. President of Gabon is Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba after taking over from his late father Omar, who ruled Gabon for 41 years until his death in 2009. ==Legislative branch== The Parliament (Parlement) has two chambers.
There was no serious civil disorder or protests following the election in contrast to the 1993 election. President Omar Ali Bongo narrowly beat rival Jean Ping in the official results of the Presidential election in 2016.
The electoral regulations benefitted President Bongo, according to the Mission's report. ==Executive branch== |President |Ali Bongo Ondimba |Democratic Party |16 October 2009 |- |Prime Minister |Rose Christiane Raponda |Democratic Party |16 July 2020 |} The president is elected by popular vote for a seven-year term.
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