Senate of Gabon
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TheSenate(Sénat) is the upper house of theParliament of Gabon.It has 67 members, elected in single-seatconstituenciesby local and départemental councillors (52 seats) or appointed by the president (15 seats) for a six-year term.[1]Beginning with the 2009 election, some constituencies elect two senators.
The status of the Parliament is unclear following thecoup d'étatfour days after the2023 general election.[2]
History[edit]
The 1991 Constitution provided for the establishment of the Senate; previously the legislature had consisted of a unicameralNational Assembly.The creation of Senate was approved on 18 March 1994.[3]The Senate was not created until 1997, when an election was held to fill the seats in the upper house.[4]
The first Senate president wasGeorges Rawiri(1932-2006), a long-time national political figure and close ally ofOmar Bongo.He served in this position until his death in 2006.
He was replaced byRené Radembino Coniquet,also a member of theMyénéethnic group.
ASenate electionwas held on 18 January 2009. The rulingGabonese Democratic Partywon a large majority of seats.[5]On this occasion, the number of senators was increased from 91 to 102. Following the election,Rose Francine Rogombéwas elected as President of the Senate.
Elections[edit]
| Party | Seats | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2003 | 2009 | 2014 | |
| Gabonese Democratic Party | 52 | 67 | 75 | 81 |
| National Woodcutters' Rally – Rally for Gabon | 19 | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| Gabonese Progress Party | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic and Republican Alliance | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Social Democratic Party | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| People's Unity Party | 1 | 0 | – | – |
| Union of the Gabonese People | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Gabon of the Future | – | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Common Movement for Development | 1 | – | – | – |
| Circle of Liberal Reformers | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| Rally for Democracy and Progress | 1 | 1 | – | – |
| Independent Centre Party of Gabon | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development | – | – | 3 | – |
| Independents | 8 | 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Total | 91 | 91 | 102 | 100 |
| Source:DSG(1997, 2002),IPU(2009),IPU(2014) | ||||
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Gabon: Freedom in the World 2022.
{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|title=(help);Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^Beaumont, Peter (2023-08-30)."Gabon military officers declare coup after Ali Bongo wins disputed election".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved2023-08-30.
- ^"Histoire - Sénat - République Gabonaise".3 January 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 2017-01-03.
- ^David E. Gardinier and Douglas A. Yates,Historical Dictionary of Gabon(third edition, 2006), Scarecrow Press, page 65.
- ^"Gabon: Elections sénatoriales 2009: le PDG en tête des résultats"[permanent dead link],Gabonews, 19 January 2009(in French).
External links[edit]
- Website of the Senate of GabonArchived2016-03-02 at theWayback Machine
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