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Activists and opposition leaders in Togo called for protests to stop the country’s president from signing off on a new constitution. They felt that the new constitution was an effort by the incumbent President Faure Gnassingbé to extend his rule
Activists and opposition leaders in Togo called for protests to stop the country’s president from signing off on a new constitution. They felt that the new constitution was an effort by the incumbent President Faure Gnassingbé to extend his rule.
The constitution, which was passed by the country’s lawmakers earlier this week. It now awaits President Faure Gnassingbé’s final approval, grants parliament the power to choose the president, and does away with direct elections. This makes it likely that Gnassingbé will be re-elected when his mandate expires in 2025, his opponents apprehend
Some legal experts say the Constitution actually restricts the power of future presidents as it introduces a one-term limit and hands over greater power to a figure similar to a prime minister. That person will be officially called the president of the Council of Ministers. But opposition fears the role could become another avenue for Gnassingbé to extend his grip on power.
The new constitution also increases presidential terms from five to six years. The almost 20 years that Gnassingbé has served in office, after taking over from his father, would not count toward that tally.
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The Catholic Christian clergy has urged the president not to sign the bill into law. “Such an important subject which will profoundly change the political life of the country must give rise to broad consultation and a more inclusive national debate, they maintained. They also said that was not appropriate to modify the Constitution during the ongoing campaign period. A referendum was necessary for the country to adopt a new constitution, they argued. Togo, a nation of around 8 million people, has been ruled by the same family for 57 years, initially by Eyadema Gnassingbé and subsequently by his son. Faure Gnassingbé.
