A new step in Togo's history

Togo's municipal and regional councilors voted today, February 15, in the first Senate election in the country's history.

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

The election marks a major step toward the establishment of a Senate and the full operation of a bicameral system in the West African nation of 9 million people.

More than 1,500 city councillors and 179 regional councillors will elect 41 of the 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 may be re-elected.

In 2002, Togo amended its Constitution to establish a bicameral parliament consisting of a House of Representatives and a Senate. However, to date, the Senate has not been established.

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

The newly adopted constitution eliminated direct presidential election, replacing it with a parliamentary system in which the head of state plays a largely 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 been president since 2005.

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