Corruption in Power

El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba ruled Gobon for 42 years till his death in 2009. He was the president of the (PDG) or the Gabonese Democratic Party. He has been crowned the longest serving non-monarch ruler, after Fidel left office in 2008. Bongo is considered the main reason for the greed and corruption in the Gabonese government. His past 3 elections, 1993, 1998, and 2005 were all considered to be rigged by his party to keep him in power. The last election bared little to no opposition for his opponents didn’t want to waist their money on an election they knew they wouldn’t win. There is now confusion in the country, as to who is going to take over Bongo’s place since his unexpected death almost a year ago on June 8th 2009. The government is set up in different sections but all under the president. There is Parliament (Parlement) which has two chambers, The National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) which has 120 members, 111 of those members are elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies and nine members appointed by the president. The Senate (Sénat) has 91 members, elected for a six year term in single-seat constituencies by local and departmental councillors.