Togo’s ruling party has secured a parliamentary majority in the recent legislative elections, according to the country’s electoral commission, which announced the results on Saturday.
President Faure Gnassingbe’s Union for the Republic (UNIR) party won 108 out of 113 seats in parliament, with a voter turnout reported at 61%.
Significance of the Results
This decisive victory comes in the wake of a contentious constitutional reform approved by the outgoing parliament earlier this year. Critics argue that the amendments, which transition the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system, could further entrench Gnassingbe’s nearly 19-year rule.
Under the new structure, the president will be elected by parliament instead of through universal suffrage. While the presidential role becomes largely ceremonial, the amendments create a new position of president of the council of ministers, akin to a prime minister, which will automatically be held by the leader of the majority party in parliament.
With these election results, Gnassingbe is poised to take on this new role. The legislative vote had been postponed twice due to opposition concerns that the constitutional changes were designed to facilitate a lifetime presidency for Gnassingbe.
Despite the controversies, opposition parties participated in the elections, aiming to secure seats to challenge the ruling UNIR party. Gnassingbe has been in power since 2005, having succeeded his father, Eyadema Gnassingbe, who ruled for 38 years.
