Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
Encyclopedia
The Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea is the ruling political party
in Equatorial Guinea
. It was established by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
as the country's sole legal political organization on 11 October 1987. The current Secretary-General is Agustín Nze Nfumu.
Despite the legalization of opposition parties in 1991, the PDGE has been the dominant party since its inception. In the 2004 parliamentary election, 98 of 100 seats were won by either PDGE members or "opposition" parties that support Obiang; in the 2008 parliamentary election, the PDGE and its allies won a total of 99 out of 100 seats. In presidential elections, Obiang typically wins 95-99% of the vote, with the opposition regularly calling for boycotts.
The party has an extremely narrow base, which is the Esangui clan of the Fang tribe, located in the Mongomo
region of Río Muni
. Since independence in 1968, Equatorial Guinea has been ruled by a single family; the first president, Francisco Macías Nguema
, was overthrown by his nephew, Obiang, in 1979. The party has been criticized for acting in a very authoritarian manner and teaming up with the government to inform on political dissidents. The party is considered by the vast majority of international observers to be corrupt.
and anti-separatism (which often amounts to Fang chauvinism). Although almost all the highest placed political appointments are held by former soldiers, the core military force -the army- remains somewhat underfunded in favour of naval and air-force maintenance. Government expenditures are equal to less than 10% of GDP, with military expenditures accounting for roughly 25-35% of that figure. The amount of the budget spent on schooling, healthcare and other such investments is in proximity to the military budget. The constitution guarantees that the government will have a monopoly in certain industries, although much has been done to privatise these industries, in similar fashion to the way oil drilling was privatised. The party also has a minister for women, and has in recent years pursued a female empowerment agenda.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea where the capital Malabo is situated.Annobón is the southernmost island of Equatorial Guinea and is situated just south of the equator. Bioko island is the northernmost point of Equatorial Guinea. Between the two islands and to the...
. It was established by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is an Equatoguinean politician who has been President of Equatorial Guinea since 1979. He ousted his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, in an August 1979 military coup and has overseen Equatorial Guinea's emergence as an important oil producer, beginning in the 1990s...
as the country's sole legal political organization on 11 October 1987. The current Secretary-General is Agustín Nze Nfumu.
Despite the legalization of opposition parties in 1991, the PDGE has been the dominant party since its inception. In the 2004 parliamentary election, 98 of 100 seats were won by either PDGE members or "opposition" parties that support Obiang; in the 2008 parliamentary election, the PDGE and its allies won a total of 99 out of 100 seats. In presidential elections, Obiang typically wins 95-99% of the vote, with the opposition regularly calling for boycotts.
The party has an extremely narrow base, which is the Esangui clan of the Fang tribe, located in the Mongomo
Mongomo
Mongomo is a city in Wele-Nzas Province in mainland Equatorial Guinea.From Mongomo originate the nation's first president Francisco Macías Nguema and of the current President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, hence the name the clan of Mongomo to define those belonging to his ruling clique.The area is...
region of Río Muni
Río Muni
Río Muni is the Continental Region of Equatorial Guinea, and comprises the mainland geographical region, covering 26,017 km².-History:Río Muni was ceded by Portugal to Spain in 1778 in the Treaty of El Pardo...
. Since independence in 1968, Equatorial Guinea has been ruled by a single family; the first president, Francisco Macías Nguema
Francisco Macías Nguema
Francisco Macías Nguema was the first President of Equatorial Guinea, from 1968 until his overthrow in 1979.-Rise to power:...
, was overthrown by his nephew, Obiang, in 1979. The party has been criticized for acting in a very authoritarian manner and teaming up with the government to inform on political dissidents. The party is considered by the vast majority of international observers to be corrupt.
Stances
The PDGE has little in the way of a platform or guiding ideology, aside from encouraging foreign investment in the oil sector. Some of the few other tenets of the PDGE are militarismMilitarism
Militarism is defined as: the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests....
and anti-separatism (which often amounts to Fang chauvinism). Although almost all the highest placed political appointments are held by former soldiers, the core military force -the army- remains somewhat underfunded in favour of naval and air-force maintenance. Government expenditures are equal to less than 10% of GDP, with military expenditures accounting for roughly 25-35% of that figure. The amount of the budget spent on schooling, healthcare and other such investments is in proximity to the military budget. The constitution guarantees that the government will have a monopoly in certain industries, although much has been done to privatise these industries, in similar fashion to the way oil drilling was privatised. The party also has a minister for women, and has in recent years pursued a female empowerment agenda.
External links
- Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (Spanish)