Politics of Gabon takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential republic, whereby the President of Gabon is both head of state and head of government, though there is also a Prime Minister of Gabon. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament. Since independence the party system is dominated by the conservative Gabonese Democratic Party. The semi-presidential system is a system of government that features both a prime minister and a president who are active participants in the day to day functioning of government. ... In a broad definition, a republic is a state whose political organization rests on the principle that the citizens or electorate constitute the ultimate root of legitimacy and sovereignty. ... List of Heads of State of Gabon (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office) Sources http://www. ... Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State in many Commonwealth countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand, the Bahamas and many more, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... The head of government is the leader of the government or cabinet. ... List of Heads of Government of Gabon (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office) Sources http://www. ... Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the executive is the branch of a government charged with implementing, or executing, the law. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... Politics of Gabon Categories: Gabonese political parties | Politics stubs | Authoritarian political parties ...

Political developments

Under the 1961 constitution (revised in 1975 and rewritten in 1991), Gabon became a republic with a presidential form of government. The National Assembly has 120 deputies elected for a 5-year term. The president is elected by universal suffrage for a 7-year term. The president appoints the prime minister, the cabinet, and judges of the independent Supreme Court. The government in 1990 made major changes in the political system. A transitional constitution was drafted in May as an outgrowth of a national political conference in March-April and later revised by a constitutional committee. Among its provisions were a Western-style bill of rights; creation of a National Council of Democracy, which oversees the guarantee of those rights; a governmental advisory board on economic and social issues; and an independent judiciary. After approval by the National Assembly, the PDG Central Committee, and the president, the Assembly unanimously adopted the constitution in March 1991. Multi-party legislative elections were held in 1990-91, despite the fact that opposition parties had not been declared formally legal. 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In a broad definition, a republic is a state whose political organization rests on the principle that the citizens or electorate constitute the ultimate root of legitimacy and sovereignty. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, universities, and countries. ... The National Assembly is the name of either a legislature, or the lower house of a bicameral legislature in some countries. ... The Chamber of Deputies is the name given to the lower house of the bicameral legislatures of the following countries: It is also the name given to the unicameral parliaments of the following countries: Historically, the Chamber of Deputies (fr:Chambre des députés) was the lower house of... Universal suffrage (also general suffrage or common suffrage) consists of the extension of suffrage to all adults, without distinction as to race, sex, belief, or social status. ... Sir Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. ... A Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... A judge or justice is an official who presides over a court. ... The supreme court in some countries, provinces, and states, is the highest court in that jurisdiction and functions as a court of last resort whose rulings cannot be appealed. ... This article is about the year. ... The term Western world or the West can have multiple meanings depending on its context. ... A bill of rights is a statement of certain rights which, under a societys laws, citizens and/or residents either have, want to have, or ought to have. ... Economics (from the Greek οίκος [oikos], family, household, estate, and νομος [nomos], custom, law, hence household management and management of the state) is a social science that studies the production, distribution, trade and consumption of goods and services. ... List of major social issues overpopulation teenage pregnancy drug abuse gun control education issue singlemother increase in divorce rate increase in HI rate ... The judiciary, also referred to as the judicature, consists of the system of courts of law for the administration of justice and to its principals, the justices, judges and magistrates among other types of adjudicators. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative assembly with the power to adopt laws. ... An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ... The Parliamentary Opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. ...

After a peaceful transition, the elections produced the first representative, multi-party, National Assembly. In January 1991, the Assembly passed by unanimous vote a law governing the legalization of opposition parties. The president was re-elected in a disputed election in 1993 with 51% of votes cast. Social and political disturbances led to the 1994 Paris Conference and Accords, which provided a framework for the next elections. Local and legislative elections were delayed until 1996-1997. In 1997, constitutional amendments were adopted to create an appointed Senate, the position of vice president, and to extend the president's term to 7 years. Facing a divided opposition, President Omar Bongo was re-elected in December 1998, with 66% of the 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. The president retains strong powers, such as authority to dissolve the National Assembly, declare a state of siege, delay legislation, conduct referenda, and appoint and dismiss the prime minister and cabinet members. For administrative purposes, Gabon is divided into 9 provinces, which are further divided into 36 prefectures and 8 separate subprefectures. The president appoints the provincial governors, the prefects, and the subprefects. A multi-party system is a type of party system. ... Legalization is the process of removing a legal prohibition against something which is currently illegal. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Voting is a method of decision making wherein a group such as a meeting or an electorate attempts to gauge its opinion—usually as a final step following discussions or debates. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A constitutional amendment is an alteration to the constitution of a nation or a state. ... A senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. ... A vice president is an officer in government or business who is next in rank below a president. ... Omar Bongo El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba (formerly Albert-Bernard Bongo) (born December 30, 1935) has been the President of Gabon since 1967. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... It has been suggested that Civil and social disobedience be merged into this article or section. ... For the Boston area punk band see Siege (band). ... A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... This article is about political regions. ... The term prefecture (from the Latin Praefectura) indicates the office, seat, territorial circonscription of a Prefect; consequentally, like that word, is its applied in English in relation to actual Prefects, whose title is just that (or the forms it takes in other, especially Romance, languages), in the broadest sense in... Subprefecture is an administrative level that is below prefecture or province. ... HI A governor is also, a monkey who is smart and can fly like a penguin is a device that regulates the speed of a machine. ... A prefect (from the Latin praefectus, perfect participle of praeficio, to make in front, i. ...

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 Democratique et Sociale Gabonaise (UDSG), led by Jean-Hilaire Aubame. In the first post-independence election, held under a parliamentary system, neither party was able to win a majority. The BDG obtained support from three of the four independent legislative deputies, and M'Ba was named prime minister. Soon after concluding that Gabon had an insufficient number of people for a two-party system, the two party leaders agreed on a single list of candidates. In the February 1961 election, held under the new presidential system, M'Ba became president and Aubame foreign minister. During the last seven centuries, Bantu ethnic groups arrived in the area from several directions to escape enemies or find new land. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... Léon Mba (1902 - November 28, 1967) was the first President of Gabon (1960 - 1967). ... Jean-Hilaire Aubame (10 November 1912 - 16 August 1989) was a Gabonese politician active during both the colonial and independence periods, including service as a French deputy 1946-1958. ... A majority is a subset of a group that is more than half of the entire group. ... A two-party system is a type of party system where only two political parties have a realistic chance of winning an election. ...

This one-party system appeared to work until February 1963, when the larger BDG element 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). The UDSG failed to muster a list of candidates able to meet the requirements of the electoral decrees. 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. French troops re-established his government the next day. Elections were held in April with many opposition participants. BDG-supported candidates won 31 seats and the opposition 16. 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. M'Ba died later that year, and Omar Bongo became president. A single-party state or one-party system or single-party system is a type of party system and form of government where only a single political party dominates the government and no opposition parties are allowed. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... For the Nintendo 64 emulator, see 1964 (Emulator). ... Gabon has a small, professional military of about 5,000 personnel, divided into army, navy, air force, gendarmerie, and national police. ... A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ... February 18 is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In March 1968, Bongo declared Gabon a one-party state by dissolving the BDG and establishing a new party--the Parti Democratique Gabonais. He invited all Gabonese, regardless of previous political affiliation, to participate. Bongo was elected president in February 1975 and re-elected in December 1979 and November 1986 to 7-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. 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. 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. 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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 response to grievances by workers, Bongo negotiated with them on a sector-by-sector basis, making significant wage concessions. 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. The PDG and 74 political organizations attended the conference. Participants essentially divided into two loose coalitions, the ruling PDG and its allies and the United Front of Opposition Associations and Parties, consisting of the breakaway Morena Fundamental and the Gabonese Progress Party. This page is about protests. ...

The April conference approved sweeping political reforms, including creation of a national senate, decentralization of the budgetary process, freedom of assembly and press, and cancellation of the exit visa requirement. In an attempt to guide the political system's transformation to multi-party democracy, Bongo resigned as PDG chairman and created a transitional government headed by a new Prime Minister, Casimir Oye-Mba. The Gabonese Social Democratic Grouping (RSDG), as the resulting government was called, was smaller than the previous government and included representatives from several opposition parties in its cabinet. The RSDG drafted a provisional constitution that provided a basic bill of rights and an independent judiciary but retained strong executive powers for the president. After further review by a constitutional committee and the National Assembly, this document came into force in March 1991. Budget generally refers to a list of all planned expenses and revenues. ... An entry visa valid in all Schengen treaty countries Visas for Laos, Thailand, and Sri Lanka A visa (short for the Latin carta visa, lit. ...

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. Following President Bongo's re-election in December 1993 with 51% of the vote, opposition candidates refused to validate the election results. Serious civil disturbances led to an agreement between the government and opposition factions to work toward a political settlement. These talks led to the Paris Accords in November 1994 in which several opposition figures were included in a government of national unity. 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. President Bongo coasted to an easy re-election in December 1998 with 66% of the vote against a divided opposition. While Bongo's major opponents rejected the outcome as fraudulent, international observers characterized the result as representative even if the election suffered from serious administrative problems. There was no serious civil disorder or protests following the election in contrast to the 1993 election. Chancery Building, Libreville Libreville, estimated population 420,000[1], is the capital city of Gabon. ...

Executive branch

The president is elected by popular vote for a seven-year term. He appoints the prime minister. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president. List of Heads of State of Gabon (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office) Sources http://www. ... Omar Bongo El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba (formerly Albert-Bernard Bongo) (born December 30, 1935) has been the President of Gabon since 1967. ... Politics of Gabon Categories: Gabonese political parties | Politics stubs | Authoritarian political parties ... December 2 is the 336th day (337th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... List of Heads of Government of Gabon (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office) Sources http://www. ... Jean-François Ntoutoume Emane (born October 6, 1939) is the Prime Minister of Gabon. ... Politics of Gabon Categories: Gabonese political parties | Politics stubs | Authoritarian political parties ... January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Legislative branch

The Parliament (Parlement) has two chambers. The National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) has 120 members, 111 members elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies and 9 members appointed by a head of state - the president. The Senate (Sénat) has 91 members, elected for a six year term in single-seat constituencies by local and departemental councillors. bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats); members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms. The Parliament of Gabon consists of two chambers: The Senate (Upper Chamber) The National Assembly (Lower Chamber) This politics-related article is a stub. ... The bicameral legislature of the United States is housed in a capitol building with two wings. ... A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures, goals or loyalty. ... Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State in many Commonwealth countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand, the Bahamas and many more, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, universities, and countries. ... A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures, goals or loyalty. ...

Political parties and elections

Election results include names of political parties. See for additional information about parties the List of political parties in Gabon. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Gabon.

Main article: Gabonese presidential election, 2005

Main article: Gabonese legislative election, 2001

An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues. ... Political parties in Gabon lists political parties in Gabon. ... An election is a decision making process whereby people vote for preferred political candidates or parties to act as representatives in government. ... Politics of Gabon Categories: Election related stubs | Elections in Gabon ... Gabon held a presidential election on 27 November 2005. ... November 27 is the 331st day (332nd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba (formerly Albert-Bernard Bongo) (born December 30, 1935) has been President of Gabon since 1967. ... Politics of Gabon Categories: Gabonese political parties | Politics stubs | Authoritarian political parties ... Pierre Mamboundou (born 6 November 1946) is a Gabonese politician and president of the Union of the Gabonese People (UPG). ... The Union of the Gabonese People (UPG) is an opposition political party in Gabon. ... Zacharie Myboto (born 1938) is a Gabonese politician and president of the Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development (UGDD) party. ... Augustin Moussavou King (b. ... The Gabonese Socialist Party (PSG) is a small political party in Gabon. ... Christian Serge Maronga (born 12 October 1959) is a Gabonese politician and president of the Rally of Democrats (RDD) party. ... The Rally of Democrats (RDD) is a small political party in Gabon. ... Categories: | ... December 9 is the 343rd day (344th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... Politics of Gabon Categories: Gabonese political parties | Politics stubs | Authoritarian political parties ... The National Woodcutters Rally (Rassemblement national des Bûcherons) is an opposition social democratic political party in Gabon. ... The Gabonese Progress Party (French: Parti gabonais du progrès) is a political party in Gabon. ... The Democratic and Republican Alliance (French: Alliance Démocratique et Républicaine) is a political party in Gabon. ... The Circle of Reformist Liberals (French: Cercle des Libéraux Réformateurs) is a political party in Gabon. ... The Social Democratic Party (French: Parti Social-Démocrate) is a political party in Gabon. ... The National Woodcutters Rally-Kombila (French: Rassemblement National des Bûcherons), also known as the National Woodcutters Rally - Democratic (Rassemblement national des Bûcherons - Démocratique), is a political party in Gabon. ... The African Development Movement (French: Mouvement Africain de Développement) is a political party in Gabon. ... The Common Movement for Development (French: Mouvement Commun pour le Développement) is a political party in Gabon. ...

Judicial Branch

Gabon's Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consists of three chambers - Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts The supreme court in some countries, provinces, and states, is the highest court in that jurisdiction and functions as a court of last resort whose rulings cannot be appealed. ...

Administrative divisions

There are nine provincial administrations. These are headquartered in Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooué-Ivindo, Ogooué-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime and Woleu-Ntem. The Nyanga province is one of Gabons nine provinces. ... The Ogooué-Ivindo province is the northeastern-most of the nine provinces of Gabon. ... The Ogooué-Lolo province is one of the nine provinces of Gabon. ...

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO The Agence de coopération culturelle et technique (ACCT, French for Agency of cultural and technical cooperation) is an organisation that is part of La Francophonie. ... The African Development Bank (AfDB) is a development bank established in 1964 with the intention of promoting economic and social development in Africa. ... The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA or ECA) was established in 1958 to encourage economic cooperation among its member states (the nations of the African continent). ... FAO emblem With its headquarters in Rome, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that works to raise levels of nutrition and standards of living; to improve the production, processing, marketing, and distribution of food and agricultural products; to promote rural development; and... Flag of the G77. ... The IAEA flag The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, internally often referred to as The Agency), established as an autonomous organization on July 29, 1957, seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for military purposes. ... The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations, develops the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. ... Claiming 157 million members in 225 affiliated organisations in 148 countries and territories, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) came into being on December 7, 1949 following a split within the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). ... The International Fund for Agricultural Development is an agency of the United Nations. ... The International Finance Corporation (IFC) promotes sustainable private sector investment in developing countries as a way to reduce poverty and improve peoples lives. ... The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) is an international humanitarian organisation, often better known as the Red Cross or the Red Crescent. ... For other meanings of the ILO abbreviation, see ILO (disambiguation). ... The logo of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the international organization entrusted with overseeing the global financial system by monitoring exchange rates and balance of payments, as well as offering technical and financial assistance when asked. ... INMARSAT, is an international telecommunications company founded in 1979, originally as an intergovernmental organisation. ... Intelsat, Ltd. ... Interpol logo INTERPOL, more correctly the International Criminal Police Organization, was created in 1923 to assist international criminal police co-operation. ... The International Olympic Committee is an organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on June 23 1894 to reinstate the Ancient Olympic Games held in Greece between 776 BC to 396 AD. Its membership is 202 National Olympic Committees. ... Monument in Bern, Switzerland. ... Member states of the Non-Aligned Movement The Non-Aligned Movement, or NAM, is an international organization of over 100 states which consider themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. ... The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is not an agency of the United Nations. ... United Nations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was established in 1964 as a permanent intergovernmental body, UNCTAD is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment and development issues. ... UNESCO logo The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, commonly known as UNESCO, is a specialized agency of the United Nations system established in 1945. ... United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is an agency of the United Nations with the mission of helping countries pursue sustainable industrial development, it is a specialist in industrial affairs. ... The Universal Postal Union (UPU) is a international organization that coordinates postal policies between member nations, and hence the world-wide postal system. ... The World Confederation of Labour was founded in 1920 under the name of the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions as a confederation of unions associated with the Christian Democratic parties of Europe. ... WHO emblem The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations, acting as a coordinating authority on international public health, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ... Headquarters in Geneva The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations. ... The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 187 Member States and Territories. ...

See also

• Gabon

Original text of this article from CIA World Factbook at http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gb.html#Govt The CIA Seal The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an American intelligence agency, responsible for obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals, and reporting such information to the various branches of the U.S. Government. ...