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Little is known of the history of Gabon prior to European contact. Bantu migrants settled the area beginning in the 14th century. Portuguese explorers and traders arrived in the area in the late 15th century. The coast subsequently became a center of the transatlantic slave trade with European slave traders arriving to the region in the 16th century. In 1839 and 1841, France established a protectorate over the coast. In 1849, captives released from a captured slave ship founded Libreville. In 1862–1887, France expanded its control including the interior of the state, and took full sovereignty. In 1910 Gabon became part of French Equatorial Africa and in 1960, Gabon became independent.
Politics of Gabon takes place in a framework of a republic whereby the President of Gabon is head of state and in effect, also the head of government, since he appoints the prime minister and his cabinet. The government is divided into three branches: the Executive headed by the prime minister, the legislative that is formed by the two chambers of parliament. The judicial branch, like other two branches, is technically independent and equal to other three branches, although in practice, since its judges are appointed by the president, it is beholden to the same president. Since independence the party system is dominated by the conservative Gabonese Democratic Party.
The president of Gabon is the head of state of Gabon. A total of three people have served as president since the post was formed in 1960.
The Gabonese Democratic Party, is the ruling and dominant political party of Gabon. Between 1968 and 1990 it was the sole legal party.
Gabriel Léon M'ba was a Gabonese politician who served as both the first Prime Minister (1959–1961) and President (1961–1967) of Gabon.
Jean Ping is a Gabonese diplomat and politician who served as Chair of the African Union Commission from 2008 to 2012. Born to a Chinese father and Gabonese mother, he is the first individual of Chinese descent to lead the executive branch of the African Union.
Jean-Hilaire Aubame was a Gabonese politician active during both the colonial and independence periods. The French journalist Pierre Péan said that Aubame's training "as a practicing Catholic and a customs official helped to make him an integrated man, one of whom political power was not an end in itself."
Elections in Gabon take place within the framework of a presidential multi-party democracy with the Gabonese Democratic Party, in power since independence, as the dominant party. The President and National Assembly are directly elected, whilst the Senate is indirectly elected.
Elections in Togo take place within the framework of a presidential system. Both the President and the National Assembly are directly elected by voters. The country is a one party dominant state with the Union for the Republic in power.
Paul Marie Indjendjet Gondjout was a Gabonese politician and civil servant, and the father of Laure Gondjout, another prominent Gabonese politician. Gondjout was a member of the Mpongwe ethnic group, and served in the French colonial administration from 1928, and founded the Cercle amical et mutualiste des évolués de Port-Gentil in 1943. He was a delegate to the French Senate from 1949 to 1958, and founded the Gabonese Democratic Bloc (BDG). In 1954, Léon M'ba joined the party and eventually overthrew Gondjout as leader.
Parliamentary elections were held in Gabon on 12 April 1964. The elections were originally scheduled to be held during the week of an abortive coup, but President Leon M'ba of the Gabonese Democratic Bloc (BDG) dissolved the National Assembly and rescheduled them for 12 April. Despite widespread lack of free speech and intimidation of voters, the opposition still garnered 45% of the vote.
René Radembino Coniquet was a Gabonese politician who served as President of the Senate of Gabon from 2006 to 2009. He was a Senator from 1997 to 2014 and a long-time member of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG).
Séraphin Moundounga is a Gabonese politician who served in the government of Gabon as Minister of Justice from 2014 to 2016.
General elections were held in Gabon on 12 February 1961 to elect a President and the National Assembly. It was the first time a president had been elected, with Prime Minister Léon M'ba of the Gabonese Democratic Bloc being the only candidate and was elected unopposed. In the National Assembly election the Gabonese Democratic Bloc and the Gabonese Democratic and Social Union put forward a joint list of candidates unopposed under the name "National Union". Voter turnout was 98.7%.
Territorial Assembly elections were held in Gabon on 31 March 1957. Although the Gabonese Democratic and Social Union (UDSG) won 14 of the 40 contested seats, the Gabonese Democratic Bloc was able to form a 21-seat coalition with the Entente–Defence of Gabonese Interests and five other MPs.
The Fourth constituency for French residents overseas is one of eleven constituencies each electing one representative of French citizens overseas to the French National Assembly.
Legislative elections were held in Gabon in 2018 along with municipal elections; the first round was held on 6 October and the second round on 27 October. Despite losing 15 seats, the ruling Gabonese Democratic Party maintained its two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, winning 98 of the 143 seats.
The Gabonese Social and Democratic Union was a political party in Gabon.
Virginie Ambougou was a Gabonese royal and politician. The Oga of the Assiga clan, in 1961 she and Antoinette Tsono were elected to the National Assembly, becoming its first female members.
Virginie Bruant is a French Polynesian politician and Cabinet Minister. She is a member of the Tapura Huiraatira.
References
- 1 2 3 PORTRAITS : Virginie Ambougou et Antoinette Tsono premières femmes députées au Gabon Echos du Nord
- ↑ Virginie Ambougou et Antoinette Tsono, quand l’assemblée nationale se conjuguait au féminin en 1961 GMT, 21 August 2019
- ↑ Avis et Communiqués L'Union, 24–25 December 2015