Major Political Shift in Togo: Transition to Parliamentary System and Single Presidential Term

Togolese will no longer elect their president as their lawmakers have adopted a new constitution, transitioning the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system. 

The opposition boycotted the last legislative elections in 2018 and has been poorly represented in the national assembly. The new constitution introduces a single 6-year term for the president of the republic and a position of “president of the council of ministers,” which will have full authority to manage government affairs. 

The president of the council of ministers will either be the leader of the party that secures the majority during the legislative elections or the leader of the winning coalition of parties. MPs will be elected by universal, direct universal suffrage, secret, for a renewable term of six years. The next parliamentary election will be held on April 20th, concurrent with regional elections.