Gabon is currently facing controversy over a bill that would entrust the organization of elections to the Ministry of the Interior. This initiative, presented by Minister Hermann Immongault, has sparked strong reactions among Gabonese MPs.
The text of the bill was at the center of debate during a recent hearing that had to be canceled due to multiple disputes. MPs criticize the minister for not having respected the procedures by not transmitting the text in advance as the regulations require. MPs have emphasized that this bill modifies more than thirty articles of the 1996 electoral law, granting the Ministry of the Interior considerable powers in the organization of elections.
Some MPs express concerns about the consequences of this bill on the country’s democratic achievements. Indeed, the text grants the Ministry of the Interior important prerogatives, such as the decision to organize coupled or general elections, the validation of candidacies, or the determination of the terms of transmission of results.
For many deputies, this bill represents a real danger for democracy in Gabon. They denounce a return to a single-party system where candidates would not be sufficiently represented and where elections could be locked. In addition, the creation of local electoral commissions appointed by the Ministry of the Interior raises fears about their impartiality and probity.
Faced with these tensions, the hearing of the bill was postponed, suggesting a heated debate to come between Gabonese deputies. The opposition is rising up against this text, which it considers to be detrimental to the country’s democratic principles, casting doubts on the transparency and fairness of future elections in Gabon.
In short, this controversy highlights the crucial issues related to the organization of elections and democracy in Gabon. The ongoing debates reveal a fracture between the different political forces in the country, highlighting the need for constructive dialogue to ensure fair and transparent electoral processes.