TOWARDS A FIXED CONSTITUTION IN GABON: Nguema in Bongo’s footsteps?

This is among the necessary factors included within the report of the nationwide dialogue held final April in Gabon. The brand new Gabonese Structure supplies, in reality, for the institution of a presidential system, with the abolition of the workplace of the Prime Minister. Type of over-presidency “, by establishing a system that offers all of the powers to the Head of State who will get pleasure from them in full.

A weight-reduction plan that’s not unhealthy in itself. Within the sense that the abolition of the workplace of the Prime Minister will contribute to lowering the lifestyle of the state, in a rustic the place the vast majority of residents are struggling. Withdrawing the Prime Minister’s Workplace from the institutional circuit will even simplify public governance and streamline the executive circuit. It should additionally give the Head of State the likelihood to become involved straight and extra shortly in managing the each day lives of his countrymen, in response to some observers. It should subsequently be emphasised that the presidential system has benefits in international locations with sturdy establishments. Nonetheless, in our tropics the place sturdy males are on the head of states, one should be cautious. Particularly once we know that African leaders, once they provoke reforms, make calculations. Is not this the film that Clotaire Oligui Nguema is filming in Gabon?

If the abolition of the workplace of the Prime Minister strengthens the powers of the president, he faces his tasks.

As a result of he, in reality, will profit from this reform on the finish of the Transition Interval. In any case, barring a cataclysm, Common Nguema, given the conclusions drawn on the finish of the nationwide dialogue, will stay the president of Gabon. The sphere has already been marked for him as he’s the one member of the Transition who is allowed to run within the subsequent presidential election which ought to mark a return to regular constitutional order.

There isn’t a doubt that eradicating the portfolio of the pinnacle of presidency doesn’t intention, in reality, to offer him full powers. And nobody is unaware of the risks of absolute energy. We get pleasure from it, we get drunk, and we abuse it, particularly as a result of within the very plan, the holder will henceforth escape any parliamentary management. Aren’t we transferring in direction of a patriotic type of energy? The query stays. In actual fact, all the things is occurring as if the one who offered himself to the Gabonese one morning of August 30, 2023 as a messiah, at the moment does “Bongo with out Bongo”. Yesterday briefcase provider, the previous Bongo aide-de-camp tasted energy, received a style for it, and isn’t prepared to go away it.

However one factor is definite. If the abolition of the workplace of the Prime Minister strengthens the powers of the President of the Republic, he however faces his tasks. As a result of, now being head of the Govt Committee, he should take duty for his selections and he should defend his political file, when the time comes.

Edoé MENSAH-DOMKPIN