Gabonese legislative election, 1964

Gabon held a parliamentary election on 12 April 1964. The election was originally to be held the week of an abortive coup d'etat, though Gabonese president Leon M'ba of the Gabonese Democratic Bloc (BDG) dissolved the National Assembly and rescheduled them for 12 April. Despite widespread lack of free speach and M'ba's intimidation of voters, the opposition still garnered 46 percent of the vote.

Electoral process

The election was originally to be held the week of an abortive coup d'etat, though M'ba dissolved the National Assembly and rescheduled them for 12 April. [citation|url= http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30914FF3A5C147A93C7AB1789D85F408685F9 |title= Mba Dissolves His Cabinet And Again Delays Election|date=25 February 1964|newspaper=The New York Times|publisher=Associated Press|page=3|accessdate=18 September 2008] Upon insistence of the French, M'ba allowed opposition candidates to run, which it claimed was the main reason for starting the coup in the first place.citation|url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40A1EF73E5415738DDDA80A94DA405B848AF1D3|title=Gabon President Resumes Office: Mba, Restored by French, Vows 'Total Punishment' for All Who Aided Coup|last=Garrison|first=Lloyd|page=p. 1|date=21 February 1964|newspaper=The New York Times|accessdate=8 September 2008] However, their leaders were barred from participating because of their involvement in the coup, [Harvnb|Biteghe|1990|p=94] and known anti-Mba organizers were deported to remote parts of the country. In addition, M'ba was known to have bribed voters with banknotes. [citation|url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40D16F8385B1B728DDDAA0994DC405B848AF1D3|title=French Stand Guard While Gabon Votes|page=p. 7|date=12 April 1964|newspaper=The New York Times|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=23 September 2008] Severe electoral irregulaities were reported.Harvnb|Matthews|1966|p=127]

France closely followed the election, deporting a Peace Corps teacher.citation|url=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|title=Election Sunday to Test French "Counter-Coup" in Gabon|last=Howe|first=Russell Warren|date=7 April 1964|newspaper=The Washington Post|pages=p. D7|accessdate=8 September 2008] Their military still maintained a presence there, which may have been an intimidation of voters. Further, they distributed leaflets and supported M'ba by other means. The Gabonese Democratic and Social Union (UDSG) practically disappeared from the political scene, as many of its leaders had been jailed because of the coup, and M'ba's opposition was composed of parties that lacked national focus and maintained only regional or pro-democracy platforms.Harvnb|Biteghe|1990|p=96] The two major factions of this were the one who supported Aubame and one who was headed by a trade union leader

Nevertheless, the opposition garnered 46% of the vote and 16 of 47 seats in the assembly, while the BDG received 54% of the vote and 31 seats. The opposition disputed this, and held strikes across the country, though these did not have a sizable impact on business. [citation|url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00D1EF83A5C147A93C4A8178FD85F408685F9|title=Troops Patrolling Capital of Gabon to Keep Order|date=16 April 1964|publisher=Associated Press|newspaper=The New York Times|page=p. 45|accessdate=8 September 2008]

Results

Notes

References

*fr citation|last=Biteghe|first=Moïse N’Solé|title=Echec aux militaires au Gabon en 1964|year=1990|publisher=Chaka|location=Paris|isbn=2907768069|oclc=29518659.
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