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Equatorial Guinea advanced its presidential election by five months to November 20 so as to coincide with the legislative elections
Equatorial Guinea advanced its presidential election by five months to November 20 so as to coincide with the legislative elections. The decree issued in this regard says that the presidential, Chamber of Deputies, Senate, and municipal elections are called the election to take place on November 20, 2022. Head of state, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, holds the world record for longevity in power among living heads of state, excluding monarchies.
The only point people are speculating about is who would be the candidate for the presidential election: the Octogenarian present incumbent Obiang or his son Obiang Mangue, who is tipped to succeed him. The ruling party holds 99 of the 100 seats in the outgoing lower house. It has complete control over the Senate having all 70 seats.
Mangue is an all-powerful and feared vice-president in charge of defence. He is a jet-setter and has long been considered his father’s successor. Known for his brash behaviour and luxurious living in a country, which has a sizeable number of people living below the poverty line, he has been a constant source of criticism from external sources, particularly the NGOs. Surprisingly, the congress of the PDGE, which was to enthrone him as a candidate in November 2021, did not do so in the end, giving lend to the rumour that he was not favoured by many. They still bet on the Octogenarian president
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Equato-Guinea, is a small country but rich in hydrocarbons. Party cadres are pushing the father to run again. The PDGE was a single party until 1991 and reportedly not having any tolerance for the opposition parties. The regime is criticised by international NGOs for its repressive measures. The decree for the combined election is justified because of the economic crisis caused by the war in Ukraine and the covid pandemic. However, observers see it more as the desire of one of the two camps to push what it believes to be its advantage.
