In Gabon, provisional results from a referendum indicate that 91.8% of voters support a new constitution which limits presidential terms to two seven-year periods and prohibits hereditary power transfer. The voter turnout was marked at 53.54%. Current transitional president Brice Oligui Nguema endorses the new measures aimed at restructuring governance in the oil-rich country.
Gabon’s military rulers announced that the new constitution has received overwhelming support in a recent referendum, according to provisional results released on Sunday. An estimated 860,000 registered voters participated, urged by authorities across various media. The new constitution proposes a presidential term limit of two seven-year terms and prohibits a prime minister and hereditary succession.
The constitution’s approval signifies a pivotal moment for Gabon, an oil-rich nation that has experienced political upheaval following the military coup that ousted former President Ali Bongo Ondimba. The new measures aim to reshape governance by requiring presidential candidates to be exclusively Gabonese. Over half of the registered voters—approximately 53.54%—cast their ballots, a notably lower turnout than initially projected by local media.
The provisional results show that 91.8% of voters are in favor of the new constitution, as proclaimed by the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions. While the military junta maintains that the process has been transparent, the referendum is viewed by some as a potential tool for solidifying power. Concerns regarding the democratic integrity of the process remain.
Original Source: www.tiogapublishing.com
