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A presidential election was held in Gabon on 30 August 2009〔("Gabon: André Mba Obame, Candidat à la présidentielle anticipée du 30 août prochain" ), Gabonews, 17 July 2009 .〕 after the incumbent President Omar Bongo Ondimba, after more than 41 years as the sole president of Gabon, died on 8 June 2009. While the constitution stated that Interim President Rose Francine Rogombé should organise elections within 30 to 45 days, the Constitutional Court accepted the government's request for a delay due to the circumstances.〔("Gabon presidential poll by September 6: court" ), AFP, 8 July 2009.〕 23 candidates were approved to contest the election, although six of them withdrew immediately before the election, reducing the field to 17 candidates.〔("Gabon awaits presidential election results" ), Associated Press, 2 September 2009.〕 Despite the large number of candidates, three of them were considered the key contenders for the Presidency: Ali-Ben Bongo, the son of Omar Bongo, who was the candidate of the long-ruling Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG); Pierre Mamboundou, a radical opposition leader who was backed by a coalition of parties; and André Mba Obame, a former PDG member who ran as an independent and won the backing of several other candidates. According to official results announced on 3 September 2009, Bongo won the election with a plurality of 41.7% of the vote, while Mba Obame and Mamboundou both trailed with about 25% each. Opposition supporters reacted violently to the results.〔("Unrest as dictator's son declared winner in Gabon" ), Associated Press, 3 September 2009. AP article mirrored at (link ) from WSVN〕 ==Background (June 2009)== In the aftermath of Omar Bongo's death, reports suggested that, due to the need to update the voters' roll, the election might not be held within the 45-day period.〔Coumba Sylla, ("Bongo's private funeral held in Gabon" ), AFP, 18 June 2009.〕 Rogombé said on 20 June that preparations for the election would involve a "broad consultation with the active forces of the nation" and that her decisions would be made "under the triple seal of the constitution, consultations and consensus".〔("Gabon: Rose Francine Rogombé place ses fonctions à la tête de l’Etat sous le triple sceau de la « Constitution, de la Concertation et du Consensus »" ), Gabonews, 20 June 2009 .〕〔("Gabon's interim leader in talks on election" ), AFP, 23 June 2009.〕 In an interview on 22 June, Prime Minister Jean Eyeghé Ndong appeared to confirm this speculation, saying that "it seems certain that it will take us more than 45 days". Under the constitution, a delay beyond 45 days is legally permissible in a case of ''force majeure''. Eyeghé Ndong also said in the same interview that he would consider standing as a presidential candidate if he felt he had the necessary support.〔〔("Gabon's premier sees no election by end July" ), AFP, 23 June 2009.〕 The news agency Agence France-Presse reported that sources variously expected that an election could be held in September 2009, in the last quarter of 2009, or as late as 2010.〔 Rogombé held talks regarding the organization of the election with leaders of the Presidential Majority coalition on 23 June, and then with opposition party leaders on 24 June. One of the key opposition leaders, Zacharie Myboto of the Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development (UGDD), said that he thought it was "physically impossible" to hold the election within the constitutional 45-day timeframe and spoke of instead holding an election in five to six months.〔("Gabon: « Avec 5 mois au minimum et 6 mois au maximum, on doit pouvoir organiser une élection libre et transparente », Zacharie Myboto" ), Gabonews, 24 June 2009 .〕 Also on 23 June, opposition leader Pierre Mamboundou alleged that a coup was being prepared and denounced it. The Defense Ministry denied the existence of coup plot, and some suspected Mamboundou made the allegation in hopes of encouraging a delay in the election.〔("Gabon : Mamboundou crie «au loup !»" ), AFP (Gaboneco), 24 June 2009 .〕 On 6 July, the government requested that the Constitutional Court delay the election beyond the 45-day deadline,〔 although it did not specify how long of a delay it wanted. The Court, observing that time had been needed to organize Bongo's funeral in June, ruled on 8 July that a delay was acceptable due to ''force majeure'', but it said that the election should still be held no later than 6 September.〔 UGDD President Myboto said in mid-July that he felt that the Constitutional Court's decision to allow a 45-day extension still did not allow enough time, but he also called for UGDD militants to register to vote.〔("Gabon : Myboto juge le délai trop court" ), GabonEco, 14 July 2009 .〕 It was reported on 15 July that the Autonomous and Permanent National Electoral Commission (CENAP) had proposed to the government that the election be held on 30 August; candidates would submit their nominations from 17 July to 22 July, and campaigning would begin on 15 August.〔("Gabon presidential poll set for August 30: report" ), AFP, 15 July 2009.〕 The government officially adopted those dates on 16 July.〔 The period for the submission of candidate applications ended on the evening of 22 July. By that time CENAP had reportedly received about 30 applications; this was higher than the number of people who had publicly announced intentions to run.〔("Gabon's new government prepares for election" ), AFP, 23 July 2009.〕 The period for voter enrollment was also intended to conclude at the same time; it had been extended by 24 hours, but the UPG and the PSG opposition parties sought a further one-week extension to facilitate full enrollment of everyone who wanted to vote.〔("Gabonese opposition seeks more time for voter enrollments" ), AFP, 22 July 2009.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Gabonese presidential election, 2009」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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