GABON, 3 February, 2021 (TON): The President of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba took 45 out of 52 seats and won an overwhelming majority In the first round of Saturday’s Senate elections, said the official body in charge of the poll.

Five opposition or independent senators were elected on Saturday and two seats remain to be filled in the second round on 6 February, according to a count by the Gabonese Centre for Elections (CGE). In addition, the head of state must appoint by decree 15 members of the future Senate, which will have a total of 67 members of parliament.

In addition to the 15 "personalities" chosen by Mr. Bongo for "honoring service to the state", the 52 other senators are elected for six years in an indirect uninominal ballot by members of municipal and departmental councils, themselves largely dominated by the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) of the head of state.

There was no suspense regarding the elections for in addition to the 15 appointed by Mr. Bongo, the PDG was the only candidate in 22 of the 52 constituencies.

As the National Assembly passes laws, so does the Senate that is dominated by the CEO, however, the lower house has the authority of word in case of any disagreement.

The only unknown to date is who will become president of the Senate, a role that has however lost its aura and importance since a constitutional revision of 29 December last.

The CEO was previously responsible for ensuring the interim of the head of state in case of vacancy or impediment, but the office now falls to a triumvirate composed of the presidents of both houses of Parliament and the Minister of Defense.

"In case of temporary unavailability" of the Gabonese leader, the three will replace the president until a new election in the event of a vacancy or, a novelty in the Constitution,

This provision is intended to fill the vacuum left during Mr. Bongo's long recovery after a stroke in October 2018 that made him for many months away from power but also from the country.