Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Griffin Ondo Nzuey
Published on 2024-04-03 08:14:16
In addition to other points it intends to defend during the committee meetings that open this Wednesday, April 3 at the Angondjé stadium as part of the Inclusive National Dialogue, the Coalition for the new Republic (CNR) led by Jean Ping is advocating for a redrawing of electoral constituencies in Gabon, as the next political elections are scheduled for August 2025.
In this regard, it joins Paulette Missambo, President of the Transition Senate, who in November 2023 already called on the new authorities of the country on the need for a new distribution of seats for deputies and senators, to avoid ending up with constituencies that are too large or too sparsely populated in the new Gabon that many aspire to. During the committee meetings that open this Wednesday at the Sino-Gabonese Friendship Stadium in Angondjé, as part of the Inclusive National Dialogue, the Coalition for the new Republic (CNR) intends to “firmly defend” its proposal for a “deep revision of the electoral system” that, according to them, necessarily involves the revision of the electoral list and the implementation of the national biometric identity card.
In Gabon, the last electoral division occurred six years ago. The Council of Ministers on January 26, 2018 had decided to increase the number of deputies from 120 to 143, an increase of 23 deputies in the National Assembly. The provinces of Estuaire (26) and Haut-Ogooué (23) obtained the largest number of seats, followed by Ngounié and Woleu-Ntem (18), Ogooué-Maritime (13), Ogooué-Lolo and Ogooué-Ivindo (12), and finally Nyanga (11) and Moyen-Ogooué (10).
Other points to defend
The coalition formed around Jean Ping, a former opponent of Ali Bongo, also intends to defend other points during these meetings expected to last a month. They are particularly keen for this dialogue to be given a sovereign character so that all resulting acts are subject to a referendum. A promise already made by General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema during the opening speech on Tuesday, April 2 at the Palais des Sports et de la Culture in Libreville.
The CNR also wishes for a “deep revision of the Constitution, revision of the electoral list, and the implementation of the national biometric identity card.” And while most participants and observers say they are convinced that these initial expectations are almost guaranteed, the coalition adds to them audits of public and semi-public establishments, an emphasis on the fight against illicit enrichment, the promotion of local governance. They also emphasize the need to establish a Truth-Justice-Reparation-Forgiveness-Reconciliation commission and the establishment of a committee to monitor the actions of these discussions.
Read the original article(French) on Gabon Review
