A new milestone in Togo's history.

Togo's city and regional councilors cast their votes today, February 15, in the country's first-ever Senate election.

Thousands of council members voted to elect 41 Togolese senators on February 15. (Source: News Central)

The election marks a significant step toward establishing a Senate and fully operating a bicameral system in this West African nation of 9 million people.

Over 1,500 city councilors and 179 regional councilors selected 41 of 61 senators from a pool of 89 candidates. The remaining 20 seats will be appointed by the President of the Council of Ministers, effectively President Faure Gnassingbe.

Senators serve six-year terms and can be re-elected.

In 2002, Togo amended its Constitution to establish a bicameral parliament consisting of a House of Representatives and an Senate. However, a Senate has yet to be established.

In March 2024, President Faure Gnassingbe signed into law the new Constitution, officially transitioning Togo from a presidential to a parliamentary system.

The newly adopted constitution abolished direct presidential elections, replacing them with a parliamentary system in which the head of state assumes a primarily ceremonial role.

Instead, executive power will be concentrated in the hands of the President of the Council of Ministers – a position currently held by Faure Gnassingbe, who has served as President since 2005.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/buoc-tien-moi-trong-lich-su-togo-304478.html