After extensive parliamentary debates this Friday, April 19 and a consultation with the Togolese population, the National Assembly of the Republic of Togo finally adopted, unanimously, the proposal to revise the Constitution. Conceived as a “new social pact”, it paves the way for the transition from a semi-presidential system to a parliamentary system.
In unprecedented momentum, Togo is emerging as a pioneer in West Africa by transitioning from a semi-presidential regime to a parliamentary system, marking a remarkable advance in its political landscape. Anchored in a history of citizen consultation started in 2017, this development reflects the collective desire to promote more inclusive governance and active citizen participation. By reaching this historic milestone, Togo is adapting with determination to its realities and aspirations, demonstrating an undeniable urgency and desire to progress towards a more democratic and representative future.
After the phase of consultation and exchanges with the various actors of civil society, politicians and various components of the population, at the request of the President of the Republic Faure Gnassingbé in order to allow in-depth deliberation between parliamentarians, a second reading of the bill resulted in Togo’s new constitution on Friday. It realizes aspirations for greater representativeness as well as increased participation of citizens in public life.
This reform also draws its source from Togo’s accession to the Commonwealth in 2022, many members of which, such as India, have long adopted a parliamentary system which has proven itself in terms of stability and representativeness. As a result, Togo is opening an innovative reflection, within ECOWAS, on its governance system in order to respond to contemporary challenges and the aspirations of its population. It thus joins the family of nations having adopted parliamentarism – like many members of the Commonwealth – to which the country joined in 2022.
By adopting a new Constitution and strong institutions guaranteeing an increased balance of powers, the country of Faure Gnassingbé reaffirms its position as a stabilizing power and a key actor for the development and integration of the west-west sub-region. African.
The new Constitution establishes governance of the country based on effective and balanced collaboration between the components of power. It gives more weight to the parliamentary assemblies (National Assembly and Senate), which will constitute the main source of legitimacy for the executive. The Parliament meeting in Congress will, in fact, designate the President of the Republic, guarantor of the continuity of the State, while the President of the Council of Ministers, who will lead the affairs of the country, will come from the parliamentary majority. and elected by the deputies of the National Assembly.
The constitution of the Fifth Togolese Republic was designed as a new social pact, which strengthens the role of citizens in the conduct of public life, and bequeaths to future generations a stable, more representative and transparent system. The transition to a Fifth Republic and the application of parliamentarism entrench democracy and respond to popular demand for greater horizontality in the conduct of state affairs. The country is adopting a model adapted to its own realities, far removed from patterns resulting from post-colonial history.
“With the new constitutional revision, we find ourselves with perfect collaboration between the legislature and the executive in legislative matters… From now on, the legislative elections will be able to arouse more enthusiasm among the Togolese than the presidential election under the current Constitution. In addition, the multiparty system might also undergo modifications through the collaboration of small political parties. The latter will be able to evolve into large partisan groups,” Koffi Amessou Adaba, teacher and researcher in political sociology.
« This revision brings a new, more representative regime. A plenitude of power conferred on the people by their representatives”, Pacôme Yawovi ADJOUROUVI, Minister of Human Rights, citizenship training, and relations with the institutions of the Republic”.
2024-04-21 10:02:33
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