A woman casts her vote in Togo’s capital Lome earlier this week. Photo: Erick Kaglan / AP / NTB
Of NTB | 05.05.2024 03:44:01
Policy: The party of President Faure Gnassingbé, Union for the Republic (UNIR), has won 108 out of 113 seats, according to the preliminary results of the electoral commission in the country.
The election was held on 29 April, and participation was 61 per cent.
Less than a month before the elections to the National Assembly, the elected representatives passed a constitutional amendment that could allow the president to serve longer.
The change means that the president will be appointed by the National Assembly instead of being elected directly. The restriction that says the president can only serve two terms of five years each is removed.
At the same time, the president’s role is changing to become more ceremonial, while power will rest with the president in a council of ministers. This role falls to the leader of the party with a majority in the National Assembly.
Incumbent President Faure Gnassingbé has already been granted an exemption from the restriction and has ruled the West African country since 2005. He took over from his father Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who was president for 38 years, from 1967 until his death.
Togo is in 126th place – out of 167 countries – on the democracy index of The Economist magazine, which describes the government in the country as an authoritarian regime.
(© NTB)