Equatorial Guinean legislative election, 2008
Encyclopedia
An early legislative election was held in Equatorial Guinea
on 4 May 2008, at the same time as local elections. The 100 seats in parliament, along with 230 local councillor seats, were to be elected.
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema dissolved the Chamber of People's Representatives
on 29 February 2008 and announced that the legislative election, originally scheduled for 2009, was being brought forward by one year and would be held together with the local elections on 4 May. This was explained as a way to save money. Prior to the election, Obiang's Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
(PDGE) and its allies held 98 of 100 seats in the Chamber of People's Representatives and over 200 of 230 municipal council seats. It was expected that the PDGE would again win overwhelmingly in 2008.
Campaigning was reported to have proceeded without popular enthusiasm; about 1,000 people were present for the launch of the PDGE's campaign at a stadium in Malabo, although 15,000 seats were available. During the campaign, an army Antonov An-32
plane crashed off Annobon
, killing 13 PDGE militants. There were 278,000 registered voters at the time of the election.
In order to "guarantee a normal functioning of mental faculties" among voters, the sale and consumption of alcohol was banned from the night before the election through election day.
On May 4, the Secretary-General of the opposition Convergence for Social Democracy
(CPDS), Plácido Micó Abogo
, condemned the election as "a repetition of what the government has always done". He said the election was marked by "arbitrary procedures in many polling stations", including disappearing ballot papers and the failure to replace ballot papers that had run out; he also alleged that CPDS representatives in polling stations were harassed.
Partial official results were first released on May 5, showing the PDGE winning overwhelmingly. In some constituencies, such as Moka
in southern Bioko
, the party was credited with 100% of the vote. Results from most polling stations in Mongomo
, from which Obiang originates, showed the PDGE receiving every vote. The best result for the CPDS in these partial results was in Luba
district in southern Bioko, where the CPDS was credited with 0.7%. Full results were expected to be announced on 20 May 2008.
On May 9, Clemente Engonga Nguema Onguenes, the President of the National Electoral Commission and Minister of the Interior, announced on the radio that the PDGE and the nine small parties allied to it, which are together known as the Democratic Opposition, had won a total of 99 out of 100 seats; CPDS Secretary-General Plácido Micó Abogo won the remaining seat. The PDGE and the Democratic Opposition also won a combined 213 out of 230 local councillors; the CPDS won 17 councillors on Bioko and in Litoral Province
.
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
on 4 May 2008, at the same time as local elections. The 100 seats in parliament, along with 230 local councillor seats, were to be elected.
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema dissolved the Chamber of People's Representatives
Chamber of People's Representatives
The unicameral House of People's Representatives of Equatorial Guinea is the country's legislative body....
on 29 February 2008 and announced that the legislative election, originally scheduled for 2009, was being brought forward by one year and would be held together with the local elections on 4 May. This was explained as a way to save money. Prior to the election, Obiang's Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
The Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea is the ruling political party in Equatorial Guinea. It was established by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo as the country's sole legal political organization on 11 October 1987...
(PDGE) and its allies held 98 of 100 seats in the Chamber of People's Representatives and over 200 of 230 municipal council seats. It was expected that the PDGE would again win overwhelmingly in 2008.
Campaigning was reported to have proceeded without popular enthusiasm; about 1,000 people were present for the launch of the PDGE's campaign at a stadium in Malabo, although 15,000 seats were available. During the campaign, an army Antonov An-32
Antonov An-32
The Antonov An-32 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft.-Design and development:The An-32 is basically a re-engined An-26. The launch customer was the Indian Air Force, which ordered this aircraft partly due to good relations between then USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and then...
plane crashed off Annobon
Annobón
Annobón may refer to:* Annobón Province* Annobonese language* Annobon people...
, killing 13 PDGE militants. There were 278,000 registered voters at the time of the election.
In order to "guarantee a normal functioning of mental faculties" among voters, the sale and consumption of alcohol was banned from the night before the election through election day.
On May 4, the Secretary-General of the opposition Convergence for Social Democracy
Convergence for Social Democracy
Convergence for Social Democracy is the only major opposition party in Equatorial Guinea.The CPDS is headed by a President and a Secretary-General, who are currently Santiago Obama Ndong and Plácido Micó Abogo, respectively...
(CPDS), Plácido Micó Abogo
Plácido Micó Abogo
Plácido Micó Abogo is an Equatoguinean politician. He has been the Secretary-General of the Convergence for Social Democracy , an opposition political party in Equatorial Guinea, since 1994....
, condemned the election as "a repetition of what the government has always done". He said the election was marked by "arbitrary procedures in many polling stations", including disappearing ballot papers and the failure to replace ballot papers that had run out; he also alleged that CPDS representatives in polling stations were harassed.
Partial official results were first released on May 5, showing the PDGE winning overwhelmingly. In some constituencies, such as Moka
Moka
Moka is a town in Mauritius. It's also the home to the University of Mauritius, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute and the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation....
in southern Bioko
Bioko
Bioko is an island 32 km off the west coast of Africa, specifically Cameroon, in the Gulf of Guinea. It is the northernmost part of Equatorial Guinea with a population of 124,000 and an area of . It is volcanic with its highest peak the Pico Basile at .-Geography:Bioko has a total area of...
, the party was credited with 100% of the vote. Results from most polling stations in Mongomo
Mongomo
Mongomo is a city in Wele-Nzas Province in mainland Equatorial Guinea.From Mongomo originate the nation's first president Francisco Macías Nguema and of the current President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, hence the name the clan of Mongomo to define those belonging to his ruling clique.The area is...
, from which Obiang originates, showed the PDGE receiving every vote. The best result for the CPDS in these partial results was in Luba
Luba, Equatorial Guinea
Luba is the second largest town of Bioko in Equatorial Guinea, having a population of around 7,000 people. It lies on the west coast beneath volcanic peaks and is a port for the logging industry...
district in southern Bioko, where the CPDS was credited with 0.7%. Full results were expected to be announced on 20 May 2008.
On May 9, Clemente Engonga Nguema Onguenes, the President of the National Electoral Commission and Minister of the Interior, announced on the radio that the PDGE and the nine small parties allied to it, which are together known as the Democratic Opposition, had won a total of 99 out of 100 seats; CPDS Secretary-General Plácido Micó Abogo won the remaining seat. The PDGE and the Democratic Opposition also won a combined 213 out of 230 local councillors; the CPDS won 17 councillors on Bioko and in Litoral Province
Litoral Province (Equatorial Guinea)
Litoral Province is a province of Equatorial Guinea. Its capital is Bata the other two cities are Mbini and Kogo. The Littoral Province has the largest population of Equatorial Guinea....
.