large victory for the party of President Faure Gnassingbé, announces the Ceni

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A total of 108 seats of deputies out of 113 go to the presidential party, the Union for the Republic (Unir), according to the provisional results, announced the president of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni), Dago Yabré, Saturday evening in Lomé . The announcement came after a countdown broadcast live on national television.

The participation rate was 61%, according to the Céni.

These results, which have yet to be confirmed by the Constitutional Court, mark an undisputed victory for the party of President Faure Gnassingbé. The latter has been in power since 2005, following his father, who remained at the head of state for almost 38 years. This victory could allow him to remain the master of Togo’s destiny for at least six more years.

Because according to the new Constitution adopted on April 19 by the outgoing deputies, the country switches from a presidential regime to a parliamentary regime. Power will reside in the hands of a president of the Council of Ministers, who is automatically the leader of the majority party in the National Assembly. Which is the case for Faure Gnassingbé, president of Unir.

This constitutional reform has been strongly criticized by the Togolese opposition and civil society organizations who denounce a ” institutional coup » and see it as a way for Faure Gnassingbé to stay in power. This one, according to the previous Constitution, could only have run for one last term in 2025.

The opposition claims that the abolition of direct suffrage to elect the head of state will allow him to be reappointed indefinitely. This as long as his party wins the legislative elections.

For the ruling party, on the contrary, constitutional reform makes the authorities more representative.

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