Togo : The outcome of the meeting between the Head of State and the bureau of the National Assembly

Following the request of the Head of State, Faure Essozimna GNASSINGBE, for a second reading of the new constitutional law passed on March 25, 2023, by the National Assembly, an audience was granted on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at the office of the national representation.

It emerged from the discussions of this meeting between the president and the members of the National Assembly’s bureau that extensive consultations will be conducted with all stakeholders to refine this fundamental law of the Togolese Republic.

The elected representatives at the end of their mandate are invited by the Head of State to listen to all relevant stakeholders and to take into account all contributions that could enrich the constitutional text for the good of the nation. Many political actors and analysts have welcomed this decision by President Faure GNASSINGBE.

This decision reflects his spirit of listening to the aspirations of the population, the importance he attaches to constructive dialogue, and his search for social cohesion. As a reminder, the major innovations brought to the 1992 constitution concern the political regime and the presidential mandate.

The first revision of the constitution should transition Togo from the 4th to the 5th republic and move from a presidential regime to a parliamentary regime, where the president of the republic is elected by the National Assembly and the Senate for a single term of six (06) years.

The review of this new constitutional law text therefore necessitates the postponement of the date of the double legislative and regional elections, initially scheduled for April 20, 2024. According to official information, the government will proceed with a slight adjustment of the schedule for these elections.

Regina TAMAKLOE