Togo Holds First-Ever Senate Elections Despite Opposition Boycott
Historic vote marks shift to a bicameral parliament, but critics denounce process as politically motivated.
- Municipal and regional councilors voted to fill 41 seats, while the president will appoint 20 more
- Critics claim the elections were rigged to favor the ruling party
- The Senate fulfills a 2002 constitutional amendment for a bicameral system
Togo has conducted its inaugural Senate elections, marking a significant step in its constitutional reforms despite a boycott from opposition parties.
On Saturday, 1,706 municipal and regional councilors cast their votes to establish the country’s upper legislative chamber.
The election, part of Togo’s transition to a bicameral parliamentary system, saw 1,527 municipal and 179 regional councilors selecting 41 senators from a pool of 92 candidates. President Faure Gnassingbé will appoint the remaining 20 senators, completing the 61-member chamber. Elected senators will serve six-year terms, with the possibility of re-election.
However, the opposition decried the process as a political maneuver by the president, with Me Dodji Apevon of the FDR party labeling the elections “predetermined.” Civil society groups also voiced concerns about alleged bias favoring the ruling party.
This development comes more than two decades after a 2002 constitutional amendment paved the way for a Senate. Official results will be announced following vote verification.
