In Gabon, things are accelerating for the draft revision of the constitution, which the opposition strongly challenges. The text was voted by an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly yesterday Thursday afternoon.
as reported from Libreville, Yves-Laurent Goma
Out of 135 deputies present, 120 voted in favor and 15 against. The draft revision of the Constitution is still to be sent to the Senate, and in the event of a difference between the two chambers, Parliament will meet in Congress to adopt the project on the same terms before it is published by the President of the Republic. The main change in the text referred to in the bill, which is much commented on, consists in the creation of a temporary offer from three personalities in the event of a vacancy in power.
For its part Jean Ping, Ali Bongo’s ex-challenger during the 2016 presidential election has in a statement “condemned” this revision of the Constitution. “Before the Gabonese people and the international community, I strongly, bluntly and unequivocally condemn the very principle of this constitutional review, which to me, from the point of view of the institutional political crisis, is invalid,” he declared.
He especially claims the vacant power because of the stroke that happened a little 2 years ago President Ali Bongo Ondimba: “This revision is completely meaningless and counterproductive in the current context, because the urgent expectation of the Gabonese people is obvious, if not unanimous, of the declaration of the vacancy of power for a final result of the crisis.”
“The truth that Ali Bongo is now definitely unfit and out of the race can no longer be masked or avoided. So the ballot paper is needed. Yes! The truth of the way of voting has prevailed. It is important! He added.
►To listen: Jean Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi: “Ali Bongo is no longer able to perform the function of president»
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