GABON: TWO DAYS TO POLLING - AND ELECTION CAMPAIGN REACHES PEAK

Record ID: 347361

  • Title: GABON: TWO DAYS TO POLLING - AND ELECTION CAMPAIGN REACHES PEAK
  • Date: 17th March 1967
  • Summary: ELECTION POSTERS; PARTY MEMBERS; CROWDS; VICE-PRESIDENT BONGO. Initials AB/VS/CR/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 1st April 1967 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LIBREVILLE -- GABON
  • Country: Gabon
  • Reuters ID: LVA6N9I7IORBWG97T3PO3W5YOW7E
  • Story Text: AFTER A WEEK'S ELECTIONEERING IN GABON'S SNAP ELECTIONS, CAMPAIGNING HAS NOW REACHED ITS PEAK. WITH POLLING ONLY TWO DAYS OFF ONLY ONE PARTY HAS PUT UP CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION.

    VOTING TAKES PLACE ON SUNDAY (MARCH 19) AND PRESIDENT MBA'S DEMOCRATIC GABONESE PARTY IS SEEKING RE-ELECTION. GABON HAS ONE OTHER POLITICAL GROUPING, THE PARTY FOR THE DEFENCE OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS, BUT IT HAS NO LEADERS AND, SO FAR, NO PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES.

    THE GABONESE ELECTORATE IS BEING ASKED TO RETURN A PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN THE POLLS. BOTH PRESIDENT MBA, CONVALESCING IN PARIS AFTER A LONG ILLNESS, VICE-PRESIDENT ALBERT-MARIE BONGO AND THE PRESENT 16-MAN CABINET ARE SEEKING RE-ELECTION FOR SEVEN YEAR TERMS.

    TWENTY-SIX MEMBERS OF THE 47-MAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ARE ALSO SEEKING RE-ELECTION. THE ELECTION WAS ANNOUNCED ON MARCH 4 BY VICE-PRESIDENT BONGO, WHO SAID THE PRESIDENT HAD ORDERED THE POLL TO ENABLE THE PEOPLE TO ENDORSE RECENT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

    THE AMENDMENTS, APPROVED LAST MONTH, PROVIDE FOR A VICE-PRESIDENT, VOTED IN BY THE ELECTORATE, AND FOR THE RENEWING THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AT THE SAME TIME AS THE PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. THEY ALSO PROVIDE FOR THE VICE-PRESIDENT TO REPLACE THE HEAD OF STATE, SHOULD THE LATTER BE PREVENTED FROM HOLDING OFFICE.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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