Parliamentary elections in Gabon took place on April 12, 1964 . Initially, the elections were scheduled to be held in February, when a coup attempt failed on February 17-18. President Leon Mba and members of the National Assembly from the Gabonese Democratic Bloc dissolved parliament and scheduled elections for April 12. Despite widespread suppression of freedom of speech in the country and pressure on voters, the opposition received 45% of the vote.
← 1961  1967 → | |||
| Legislative Election in Gabon (1964) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 year | |||
| 12th of April | |||
| Voter turnout | 85.0% | ||
 |  | ||
| Candidate | Leon Mba | ( Jean-Hilaire Obama ) | |
| The consignment | Gabon Democratic Bloc | Gabonese Democratic and Social Union | |
| Seats received | 31 | sixteen | |
| Votes | 142,389 (55.4%) | 114 704 (44.6%) | |
Election Context
Elections were originally scheduled for the week in which the coup d'etat took place. After the liberation of Leon Mboux by the French army, he dissolved the parliament and scheduled the elections on April 12, 1964. [1] Under pressure from the French government, the MBA allowed the opposition to participate, although this, as the opposition said, was the main reason for the coup. [2] However, opposition leaders were forbidden to participate in connection with their participation in the coup, [3] and well-known opponents of the MBA were expelled to remote areas of the country. [four]
Election Campaign
The Gabonese Democratic and Social Union has virtually disappeared from the political scene; many of its leaders have been imprisoned due to a coup. Opposition to the MBA was represented by parties that lacked national platforms and that focused on local interests and pro-democratic principles. [5] The two main opposition factions were supporters of Jean-Hilaire Obama (who, although he was proclaimed rebel by the president, did not have a direct relationship to the coup) and unions.
MBA bribed voters with a distribution of money. [6] The election process was accompanied by serious violations. [7]
The French military presence could also put pressure on voters, as it supported MBA. [7]
Results
Despite problems in the elections, the opposition received 45% of the vote and 16 of 47 seats in the National Assembly, [8] while the Gabonese Democratic Bloc received 55% of the vote and 31 seats in parliament. [5] The opposition disputed the results, held strikes in the country, but they did not have any noticeable effect on the economy. [9]
| The consignment | Votes | % | Places |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabon Democratic Bloc | 142,389 | 55,4 | 31 |
| Gabonese Democratic and Social Union | 114 704 | 44.6 | sixteen |
| Invalid / Empty Newsletters | 5,679 | - | - |
| Total | 262,772 | 100 | 47 |
| Voting Voters / Turnout | 309,049 | 85.0 | - |
| Source: Nohlen et al. | |||
Notes
- ↑ " Mba Dissolves His Cabinet And Again Delays Election ", The New York Times ( Associated Press ): 3, February 25, 1964 , < http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30914FF3A5C147A93C7AB1789D85F408685F9 > . Retrieved September 18, 2008.
- ↑ Garrison, Lloyd (February 21, 1964), " Gabon President Resumes Office: Mba, Restored by French, Vows 'Total Punishment' for All Who Aided Coup ", The New York Times : 1 , < http: //select.nytimes. com / gst / abstract.html? res = F40A1EF73E5415738DDDA80A94DA405B848AF1D3 > . Retrieved September 8, 2008.
- ↑ Biteghe, Moïse N'Solé (1990), Echec aux militaires au Gabon en 1964 , Paris: Chaka, ISBN 2-907768-06-9 , OCLC 29518659
- ↑ Howe, Russell Warren (April 7, 1964), " Election Sunday to Test French" Counter-Coup "in Gabon ", The Washington Post : D7 , < http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/197659472.html ? dids = 197659472: 197659472 & FMT = ABS & FMTS = ABS: FT & date = APR + 08% 2C + 1964 & author = By + Russell + Warren + Howe + The + Washington + Post + Foreign + Service & pub = The + Washington + Post & desc = Election + Sunday + to + Test + French + 'Counter-Coup' + in + Gabon & pqatl = google > . Retrieved September 8, 2008.
- ↑ 1 2 Biteghe, p96
- ↑ " French Stand Guard While Gabon Votes ", The New York Times ( Associated Press ): 7, 12 April 1964 , < http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40D16F8385B1B728DDDAA0994DC405B848AF1D3 > . Retrieved September 23, 2008.
- ↑ 1 2 Matthews, Ronald (1966), African Powder Keg: Revolt and Dissent in Six Emergent Nations , London: The Bodley Head , OCLC 246401461
- ↑ Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook , p400 ISBN 0-19-829645-2
- ↑ " Troops Patrolling Capital of Gabon to Keep Order ", The New York Times ( Associated Press ): 45, April 16, 1964 , < http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00D1EF83A5C147A93C4A8178FD85F408685F9 > . Retrieved September 8, 2008.