IFES
 

Aug. 26, 2023 Held

Gabon

Gabonese Republic

Election for Gabonese Presidency


General Information

Note: Results are not available, as a coup occurred before the official results could be published by Gabonese election authorities. 

At Stake in this Election: 

  • The Presidency of Gabon 

This election will occur simultaneously with parliamentary and departmental and municipal council elections. 

Government Structure:  

  • Chief of State: President Ali BONGO Ondimba (since 16 October 2009) 

  • Head of Government: Prime Minister Alain Claude BILIE-BY-NZE (since 9 January 2023) 

  • Assembly: bicameral Parliament (Parlement) with a 67-seat Senate (Senat) and a 143-seat National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) 

Electoral System:  

  • The President is directly elected by plurality vote and may serve an unlimited number of 5-year terms. 

  • The Prime Minister is appointed by the President. 

  • Within the Senate, 15 members are appointed by the President, and 52 members are indirectly elected by municipal and departmental legislative bodies. Senators serve 5-year terms. 

  • Within the National Assembly, all members are directly elected by plurality vote in single-seat constituencies and serve 5-year terms. 

Last Election: 

In 2016, Ali BONGO Odimba (PDG) was reelected with 49.8% of the vote, defeating Jean PING (PGP). Voter turnout was 59.46%. 

New/Unique in this Election: 

In 2023, Parliament passed a constitutional amendment that fixed presidential, parliamentary, and subnational council terms at five years, thus synchronizing their elections. Parliament also approved a change to the electoral code that reduced the number of election observers to 3 per polling station: 1 each to be named by majority party, the opposition, and independent candidates. 

Key Deadlines: 

Main Candidates in this Election: 

  • Ali BONGO Ondimba 

  • Gabonese Democratic Party / Parti Démocratique Gabonais (PDG) 

  • Hugues Alexandre Barro CHAMBRIER 

  • Rally for Party and Modernity / Rassemblement pour la partie et la modernité (RPM) 

  • Victoire Lasseni DUBOZE 

  • Union of Alliances for a New Africa / Union des Alliances pour une Nouvelle Afrique (UANA) 

  • Pierre Claver Maganga MOUSSAVOU 

  • Social Democratic Party / Parti Social-Démocrate (PSD) 

  • Paulette MISSAMBO 

  • National Union / Union Nationale 

  • Mike Steeve Dave JOCKTANE 

  • New Gabon / Gabon Nouveau 

  • Raymond Ndong SIMA 

  • Independent 

  • Jean Delor Biyogue Bi NTOUGOU 

  • Gérard Ella Nguema MITOGHE 

  • Jean Romain FANGUINOVENY 

  • Thérence Gnembou MOUTSONA 

  • Axel Stophène Ibinga IBINGA 

  • Joachim Mbatchi PAMBO 

  • Abel Mbombe NZONDOU 

  • Jean Victor Mouanga MBADINGA 

  • Emmanuel Mve MBA 

  • Thierry Yvon Michel N’GOMA 

  • Albert Ondo OSSA 

  • Gervais ONIANE 

Population and Registered Voters: 

Gender Data: 

Disability Data: 

IFES Resources: 

  • Does IFES have a presence in Gabon: No  

  • Election Access: Yes 

  • Election Judgements: Yes; 4 resources 

Election Modified: Sep 11, 2023

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With Participation Rates