1964 Gabonese parliamentary election

none Parliamentary elections were held in Gabon on 12 April 1964. The elections were originally scheduled to be held during the week of an abortive coup, but 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 speech and intimidation of voters, the opposition still garnered 45% of the vote. Background The elections were originally to be held the week of an abortive coup. As a result of the coup, M'ba dissolved the National Assembly and rescheduled them for 12 April. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30914FF3A5C147A93C7AB1789D85F408685F9 Mba Dissolves His Cabinet And Again Delays Election 25 February 1964 The New York Times 3 18 September 2008 Upon insistence of the French government, M'ba allowed opposition candidates to run, which it claimed was the main reason for the coup.https://www.nytimes.com/1964/02/21/archives/gabon-president-resumes-office-mba-restored-by-french-vows-total.html Gabon President Resumes Office: Mba, Restored by French, Vows 'Total Punishment' for All Who Aided Coup Garrison Lloyd 1 21 February 1964 The New York Times 8 September 2008 However, opposition leaders were barred from participating because of their involvement in the coup,Biteghe Moïse N’Solé Echec aux militaires au Gabon en 1964 1990 Chaka Paris 2-907768-06-9 29518659 fr 94 and known anti-M'ba organizers were deported to remote parts of the country. Campaign 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.Biteghe, p96 The two major factions of this were the one who supported Aubame and one who was headed by a trade union leader Conduct M'ba was known to have bribed voters with banknotes,https://www.nytimes.com/1964/04/13/archives/french-stand-guard-while-gabon-votes.html French Stand Guard While Gabon Votes 7 12 April 1964 The New York Times 23 September 2008 and serious electoral irregularities were reported.Matthews Ronald African Powder Keg: Revolt and Dissent in Six Emergent Nations 1966 The Bodley Head London 246401461 127 France closely followed the elections, deporting a Peace Corps teacher.https://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+%27Counter-Coup%27+in+Gabon&pqatl=google https://archive.today/20130104131727/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/197659472.html?dids=197659472:197659472&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=APR+08,+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 dead January 4, 2013 Election Sunday to Test French "Counter-Coup" in Gabon Howe Russell Warren 7 April 1964 The Washington Post D7 8 September 2008 The French military still maintained a presence in the country, which may have been intimidating voters, and also distributed leaflets and supported M'ba by other means. Results Despite issues with the elections, the opposition received 45% of the vote and 16 of 47 seats in the National Assembly,Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p400 0-19-829645-2 while the BDG received 55% of the vote and 31 seats. The opposition disputed the results, and held strikes across the country, though these did not have a sizeable impact on business.https://www.nytimes.com/1964/04/16/archives/troops-patrolling-capital-of-gabon-to-keep-order.html Troops Patrolling Capital of Gabon to Keep Order 16 April 1964 The New York Times 45 8 September 2008 Gabonese Democratic Bloc 142389 31 Gabonese Democratic and Social Union 114704 16 5679 309049 Nohlen et al. 500px 500px References Category:Parliamentary elections in Gabon Gabon Parliamentary