President Faure Gnassingbe moves to appease Togolese public as he calls for a review of recently passed constitutional reforms.
The President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe, has called for a review of the Constitutional reforms recently passed by the Togolese parliament, under which the Togolese president will be elected for a single six-year term by the members of parliament rather than in a general vote.
“Taking into account the fact that everything is subject to improvement, and taking into account the interest sparked among the population since the adoption of this document, the president of the republic asked the president of the National Assembly to hold a second reading of the bill,” the presidential office said in a statement published on X on Friday, March 29.
The Togolese National Assembly had adopted the new version of the country’s constitution that would make Togo a parliamentary republic last week. The constitutional reform, which was approved with 89 votes in favour, one against and one abstention, would grant parliament the power to choose the President, doing away with direct elections.
This would most likely guarantee that Gnassingbé, whose party controls the parliament, would be re-elected in next year’s presidential election.
What aspects of the reforms would be reviewed and what changes have been suggested are not known as yet.
However, what appears to be the prevalent opinion in Togo is that the claims that the reforms only indicate a shift to parliamentary system is false as parliamentarians had no consultations with their constituents. The basis for such a reform without consulting the people through a referendum raises important questions, they say.
Some political commentators support this position, saying a reform that would have such immense implications for the stability of the country would have required extensive consultations with the Togolese people.
By its reforms, Togo seems to have designed a new parliamentary system that suits the aims of its political actors.
There are mixed reactions from the public on the president’s response. While there are opinions that Gnassingbe’s call for a review indicates an appreciation of the political implications, some believe it is just a face-saving move intended to buy time and distract public focus from an approval they believe he would eventually sign.
Some even suggest that the president’s move is a ruse to shift all blames for the reforms to the parliament, which many say hardly functions without his approval.
According to one commentator, who sought anonymity, “he wants to play the great saviour listening to the people, so it would seem that it is the deputies who are bad against the people, but the president is the natural choice of the people.”
Some commentators have also raised questions about the concealment of important provisions in the reform. An example is the silence on the extent of the powers of the newly established post of President of the Council of Ministers.
What is known is that the President of the council of ministers would have “full authority and power to manage the affairs of the government”, the Chairman of the National Assembly’s committee on constitutional laws, Tchitchao Tchalim, said. The role, similar to that of a Prime Minister, would go to the leader of the party or majority coalition of parties following legislative elections.
It is unclear when lawmakers would start a second reading of the constitutional reform and whether any significant amendment would be made. The date the reforms would take effect is also unknown.
