Gabonese Democratic Party

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about the Gabonese Democratic Party formed in 1968. See also Gabonese Democratic Party (1945).
Gabonese Democratic Party
Founded 12 March 1968
Headquarters Libreville

The Gabonese Democratic Party (French: Parti Démocratique Gabonais, PDG), is the ruling and dominant political party of Gabon. Its motto is Dialogue, Tolerance, Peace.

It has held power since independence, first under Léon M'ba (with the party named the Gabonese Democratic Bloc), then under Omar Bongo. In the National Assembly of Gabon it holds 86 of 120 seats, and in the Senate of Gabon it holds 54 of 91 seats.[citation needed]

The PDG was the sole legal party from its inception on 12 March 1968. In May 1990 constitutional amendments reestablished a multiparty system in Gabon.[1]

In the parliamentary election held on 9 December 2001, the party won 88 out of 120 seats. In the 17 December 2006 election, the PDG won 80 seats; parties allied with the PDG also won some seats.

In the presidential election held in 2009, Ali Bongo Ondimba, the son of Omar Bongo, won the election with 41.7% of the vote under the banner of the PDG.

PDG has several branches (or 'Federations') abroad, with the largest being in France and in the United States.


On 17–21 September 1986, the PDG held its Third Ordinary Congress in Libreville; at the congress, it designated Bongo as its candidate for the single-party November 1986 presidential election.[2]

Between 1991 and 1994 Secretary-General was Jacques Adiahénot.

The PDG held its Ninth Ordinary Congress on 19–21 September 2008. At this congress, Faustin Boukoubi, who had been Minister of Agriculture, was elected as the party's Secretary-General;[3][4][5] he replaced Simplice Guedet Manzela, who had previously been the Secretary-General for ten years.[4][5] Also at the congress, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, composed of 18 members, was elected. The Standing Committee includes two members from each of Gabon's nine provinces, and 15 of its 18 members are also members of the government.[5]

Current deputies of the PDG in the National Assembly[edit]

Deputies currently representing the party in the National Assembly of the 11th Legislature:


  1. ^ "Gabon". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 
  2. ^ "Apr 1987 - Re-election of President Bongo - Cabinet changes - Internal political and security developments - Economic situation", Keesing's Record of World Events, Volume 33, April, 1987 Gabon, Page 35047.
  3. ^ "Gabon : Faustin Boukoubi a pris officiellement ses fonctions", Infosplusgabon, 26 September 2008 (French).
  4. ^ a b "PDG: Faustin Boukoubi au gouvernail", Croissance Saine Environnement, 22 September 2008 (French).
  5. ^ a b c "Gabon : Le challenge de Faustin Boukoubi au secrétariat général du PDG", GabonEco, 22 September 2008 (French).

External links[edit]