Togo’s ruling party wins legislative vote in power-extending boost for President Faure Gnassingbe

Togo’s ruling party won a parliamentary majority in April’s legislative elections, the country’s electoral commission said Saturday, after a divisive constitutional reform that critics say will allow President Faure Gnassingbe to extend his time in power.

In the much-anticipated legislative elections in Togo back in April this year which many critics said would allow President Faure Gnassingbé an extension of his tenure of office, the Union for the Republic Party (UNIR) emerged victorious. According to provisional results by the electoral commission, UNIR won 108 out of the 113 seats in the new assembly. The participation rate of the elections was at 61% according to Dago Haber, president of the EC.

Under the new constitution approved by lawmakers in April, Gnassingbe will now be able to take a new post as president of the council of ministers, a role similar to a prime minister that is automatically assumed by the leader of the majority party in parliament.

Togo’s president on the other hand becomes a ceremonial role elected by parliament for a four-year term.

Already in power for nearly 20 years, Gnassingbe succeeded his father Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled for almost four decades in the small coastal West African state between Benin and Ghana.

The opposition earlier denounced the constitutional reforms, saying that it was an “institutional coup” for creating a role intended for President Gnassingbé in order to extend his family’s dynasty. However, UNIR loyalists are of the view that the reforms will make the country’s democracy more representative.

Regional election observers said that they were satisfied with the conduct of the April 29 elections which saw a vote for the regional representatives who will help select the membership of the senate.

The opposition parties had challenged the reforms as illegal in the court of the regional bloc Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) but their attempts were allegedly blocked by authorities.

Source: www.france24.com