Aernan Lubem
Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday brought forward its presidential election by five months to November 20, at the same time as the legislative elections.
This was disclosed in a decree issued by the head of state, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
Obiang holds the world record for longevity in power among living heads of state, excluding monarchies.
According to report, the only issue at stake will be the designation of the candidate of the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), which holds 99 of the 100 seats in the outgoing lower house and all 70 seats in the Senate.
The latter, all-powerful and feared vice-president in charge of defense, a publicly assumed jet-setter has long been considered his father’s successor and has been omnipresent on the political scene for the past two years.
However, the congress of the PDGE, which was to enthrone him as a candidate in November 2021, did not do so in the end, to the surprise of everyone.
