S&D MEP Jo Leinen, the president of the European Parliament’s observation mission to Gabon, who was present for the elections, stated:
“The final report of the EU’s election observation mission shows clearly that the results of the presidential elections in Gabon on the 27th August were manipulated. It’s now a question of considering the next steps.
“The irregularities we presented today in Libreville only allow one conclusion: Ali Bongo lost the elections and is not the legitimate president of Gabon.
“The flagrant manipulation of the results of the presidential elections cannot be accepted. The European Union must now start the consultation procedure set out under article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. If the consultations fail, the EU will have to consider sanctions.”
Working jointly with other parliamentarians, the European Parliament will hold an emergency debate followed by a resolution on the situation in Gabon during the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly on the 19-21 December in Nairobi.
