| Description | Authoritarian ruling party of Gabon launched as the 'Gabonese Democratic Bloc' by Gabon's first Prime Minister and President, Léon Mba (February 12, 1961 to November 27, 1967). Mba established the principle of monopartism, or the monopoly of political activity within a state, which combined Communist principles and the pan-Africanism of Ivorian Félix Houphouët-Boigny. On Mba's death, authoritarianism continued under his successor, Omar Bango (President from December 2, 1967 to June 8, 2009), who changed the party's name to the Gabonese Democratic Party on March 12, 1968. Omar Bango's son, Ali Bongo, took command on October 16, 2009 upon his father's death and has been president since.Party is led by its general secretary Éric Dodo Bounguendza [Le Parti démocratique gabonais (PDG)]. |
