The Gabonese will give their opinion on the country’s draft new Constitution on November 16, 2024. From the side of certain political actors, this Constitution is welcome because it will avoid a trend in the region where presidents often seek mandates in outside constitutional limits.
On November 16, 2024, the Gabonese will take a position on the country’s draft new Constitution. The new text provides a change of regime, from semi-presidential to presidential, the limitation of the number of mandates to two for a period of seven years each, the abolition of the post of Prime Minister as well as the recognition of French as the working language.
In reality when the people trust the political authority who embodies power, they vote for his referendum project. His Excellency Brice Clotaire Olingui Nguema embodies hope.
Martial Dibangoyi Loundou, Lawyer
According to Ntsegue Laffite Joyce, deputy executive secretary and spokesperson for the Rally for the Fatherland and Modernity (RPM) and Alexandre Barro Chambrier, Deputy Prime Minister of Gabon, this Constitution will open a new page in the institutional life of Gabon .The two actors emphasize that the new text guarantees the alternation and the end of perpetual mandates. For Paul Biyoghe Mba, parliamentarian and member of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), the party of former president Ali Bongo, such a constitution can avoid a trend in the region where presidents often seek a third term despite constitutional limits.
The technical questions of unconstitutionality, of referral to the constitutional court of mandate of political regime are so technical and this is not what can lead a citizen to decide to vote or not for a constitution. It is always the fact that there is a person who embodies hope and through this hope he embodies the citizen. Republican will vote according to the hope that he feel coming through the authority which at the time of the referendum embodies power.
Martial Dibangoyi Loundou, Lawyer
Remember that the referendum, which will be held on November 16, is the first vote since the coup d’état of August 30, 2023 which put an end to the father and son “Bongo dynasty”. Other provisions of the draft new Constitution stipulate that to be a candidate in the presidential election, one must have a Gabonese parent. Furthermore, the spouse and descendants of a president cannot be candidates for succession. Provisions designed to avoid a return to an authoritarian regime according to the Gabonese authorities.
