Togo\u2019s presidency has asked the parliament for a “second reading” of a controversial constitutional reform approved last week following public outcry over what opponents say is a ploy by President Faure Gnassingb\u00e9 to hold onto power and extend his nearly two-decade-long rule.
A “second reading” of the reform was justified by the “interest of the public aroused by the text since its adoption” last week, Gnassingb\u00e9\u2019s office said in a statement published Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The constitutional reform, which was approved with 89 votes in favour, one against and one abstention, would grant parliament the power to choose the President, doing away with direct elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This would make it likely that Gnassingb\u00e9, whose party controls the parliament, would be re-elected in next year’s presidential election.
Opponents slam Togo’s new constitution as ploy for Gnassingb\u00e9 to stay in power
Togo\u2019s presidency has asked the parliament for a “second reading” of a controversial constitutional reform approved last week following public outcry over what opponents say is a ploy by President Faure Gnassingb\u00e9 to hold onto power and extend his nearly two-decade-long rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Togo’s President Faure Gnassingb\u00e9. His office has called for parliament to review a constitutional reform that would change the role of the president, after opposition protests saying that it is a ploy to hold on to power.
Togo’s President Faure Gnassingb\u00e9. His office has called for parliament to review a constitutional reform that would change the role of the president, after opposition protests saying that it is a ploy to hold on to power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A “second reading” of the reform was justified by the “interest of the public aroused by the text since its adoption” last week, Gnassingb\u00e9\u2019s office said in a statement published Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The constitutional reform, which was approved with 89 votes in favour, one against and one abstention, would grant parliament the power to choose the President, doing away with direct elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This would make it likely that Gnassingb\u00e9, whose party controls the parliament, would be re-elected in next year’s presidential election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Avoiding’ voters<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The move towards a parliamentary system is a way for Gnassingb\u00e9 to avoid facing voters at the polls, says Brigitte Adjamagbo-Johnson, of the opposition Democratic convention of the African people (CDPA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This is being done to avoid direct voting for the president, because the person holding power knows very well that it will be difficult to continue to cheat and tamper with presidential elections,” she told RFI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“He was never elected, you know, and he knows that the Togolese people are lying in wait for him in the next election”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gnassingb\u00e9 has ruled the country for 19 years, since 2005 when he took over after the death of his father, Gnassingb\u00e9 Eyadema, who seized power in a coup in 1967. The last elections date back to 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gnassingb\u00e9 faced widespread demonstrations in 2017 and 2018 calling for an end to his family\u2019s rule. A crackdown on protests including internet shutdown helped Gnassingb\u00e9 survive the demonstrations and in May 2019 his government voted in a change to Togo\u2019s constitution potentially enabling him to remain in office until 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several other African countries have pushed through constitutional and legal changes in recent years, allowing their presidents to extend their terms in office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parliamentary system<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Togo’s new constitution, which would mark its fifth republic, would also limit the power of the presidency \u2013 which would be reduced to a single six-year term \u2013 and create the position of President of the council of ministers, who would have “full authority and power to manage the affairs of the government”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The role, similar to that of a Prime Minister, would go to the leader of the party or majority coalition of parties following legislative elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adjamagbo-Johnson says that while parliamentary systems like this exist elsewhere, the reform in Togo would not work in the current context.
The problem is that we are faced with a system that is resistant to democracy and that has done everything it can for several years to prevent political change,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She doubts a parliamentary system would have any more legitimacy than the presidential system that has been in place until now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This surreal debate is occurring in a country where we know that elections have never been transparent,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This is a diversion to scheme to hold on to power indefinitely”.
Parliamentary and regional elections are coming up on 20 April and Adjamagbo-Johnson is coordinating an opposition campaign, after having boycotted the elections in 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is unclear when lawmakers would start a second reading of the constitutional reform and whether there would be amendments added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The date on which the reform would take effect has also not been communicated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Togo\u2019s presidency has asked the parliament for a “second reading” of a controversial constitutional reform approved last week following public outcry over what opponents say is a ploy by President Faure Gnassingb\u00e9 to hold onto power and extend his nearly two-decade-long rule.A “second reading” of the reform was justified by the “interest of the public…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[748],"class_list":["post-3674","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-togo","th-blog blog-single has-post-thumbnail"],"yoast_head":"\n