Lomé, Togo — Togo's President Faure Gnassingbé has signed a controversial new constitution that abolishes presidential elections, a statement from the presidential palace said late Monday. Opponents say this will allow him to extend his family's 60-year rule.
Under the new law, direct elections will be abolished and parliament will have the power to choose the president. The electoral commission announced Saturday that Gunasingbe's ruling party won a majority of seats in the West African parliament.
The vote was preceded by a crackdown on civil and media freedoms. The government banned protests against the proposed new constitution and arrested opposition figures. The Election Commission prohibited the Catholic Church from sending election observers. In mid-April, French journalists arriving to cover the election were arrested, assaulted, and expelled. Togo's media regulator subsequently suspended the accreditation process for foreign journalists.
According to preliminary results, the ruling Union of Republics (UNIR) won 108 of 113 seats in parliament and 137 of 179 seats in the Senate.
The new constitution also extends the presidential term from five to six years and introduces a single-term limit. However, the nearly 20 years Gunasingbe was already in office do not count towards that count. The West African country has been ruled by the same family for 57 years, first by Eyadema Gnassingbé and then by his son. Faure Gnassingbé took office after an election that opposition parties described as fraudulent.
Opposition parties, religious leaders and civil society say the proposed new constitution will likely allow Gunasingbe to remain in office after his term expires in 2025. They are also concerned that a person resembling the prime minister will be chosen from among the rulings. The party could become another vehicle for Gunasingbe to extend his grip on power beyond his new term.
Around 20 civil society organizations in Togo have called for protests to defend and restore the constitution.
“We will never accept this new constitution, even after it has been promulgated. The Togolese people must look decisively towards 2025,” said a spokesperson for the civil society group. , David Doce told The Associated Press. “At that point, a presidential election is absolutely necessary for the people to choose a new president and ultimately achieve a democratic transition in Togo.”
