Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Loic Ntoutoume
Published on 2024-03-01 12:44:48
The Transitional Senate opened its first regular session of the 2024 parliamentary year on Friday, March 1st, named the Legislative Session. This session, which will last four months, will be marked by a busy agenda, including the examination of legislative texts, discussions on Senate reform, and participation in the National Dialogue.
The President of the Transitional Senate, Paulette Missambo, inaugurated the first regular session of the 2024 parliamentary year on March 1st, 2024, named the Legislative Session. In her opening speech, in the presence of government members and the presidents of Transitional institutions, she emphasized the importance of citizen engagement and the consolidation of democratic achievements during the upcoming period.
Over the next four months, Transitional senators will focus on a packed agenda, including the examination of pending texts, reflections on institutional reform, and participation in the Inclusive National Dialogue. This session promises to be a period of intense legislative activity and rich in challenges.
“This session promises to be particularly intense and rich. Both in terms of the appointments ahead of us, and the importance of pending texts to be examined. During this session, we will indeed take part in the Inclusive National Dialogue. We will approach this meeting with dedication, openness, and responsibility. During this session that begins today, and with our counterparts in the National Assembly, we will also be called upon to form the Constituent Assembly,” announced the Senate President, stressing the importance of unity and responsibility during this transitional period.
Through reflections on bicameralism and the reform of their institution, the venerable Senators intend to demonstrate that the Senate remains the stabilizing element of the institutional structure.
The Senate’s role in the Inclusive National Dialogue
During her inaugural speech, the Senate President called on her colleagues to approach the Inclusive National Dialogue with dedication, openness, and responsibility, inviting each senator to listen to their compatriots and seize the opportunity offered by the Transition to consolidate the democratic achievements dearly fought for by the Gabonese people.
“From now until the Inclusive National Dialogue, we must prepare intellectually and morally to meet the challenge of restoring the Republic to its ideal, that is, the general interest. In this era of institutional reform, the Senate will only consolidate its position if we play our part correctly. We must no longer be satisfied with just passing laws. We must help evolve our political practice, making it more compatible with democratic standards and principles of good governance, equality before the law, optimal dissemination of information, respect for the sovereignty of the people, and seeking fair and equitable solutions to all contentious situations. These principles must be at the heart of our political and citizen engagement,” prescribed Paulette Missambo.
In a context where Gabon is seeking to restore its institutions, consolidate its democracy, and strengthen its governance, Paulette Missambo’s speech resonates as a call to action and commitment to a democratic and inclusive transition. “Restoring trust between the governed and the governing, convincing as many as possible of the need to support the Transition, are undoubtedly the most exciting tasks of the moment,” assured the Senate President, calling for attentive listening to citizens and local communities.
Read the original article(French) on Gabon Review
