Togo’s legislative elections delivered a sweeping majority for the ruling party, the country’s electoral commission announced late on Saturday. The results pave the way for President Faure Gnassingbé, already in power for nearly 20 years, to extend his rule under a controversial reform to the constitution that his opponents denounce as an “institutional coup”.
Gnassingbé’s Union for the Republic party (UNIR) won 108 of 113 seats in the new assembly, according to provisional results from Monday’s vote.
Under the new constitution approved by lawmakers in April, Gnassingbé will now be able to take a new post as “president of the council of ministers” – a role similar to prime minister that is automatically assumed by the leader of the majority party in parliament.
Opposition parties claim the role is designed for Gnassingbé to evade presidential term limits and extend his family’s political dynasty.
Under the previous constitution, Gnassingbé would have been able to run for the presidency just one more time, for a five-year term starting in 2025.
Credit: rfi
