Lawmakers in Togo have endorsed a new constitution, marking a significant shift from a presidential to a parliamentary system of governance.
Under the revised framework, executive authority will be vested in the prime minister, relegating the presidency to a ceremonial position.
In this updated model, parliament will select the president for a single six-year term, departing from the previous direct public vote.
Notably, opposition parties, which had previously boycotted Togo’s elections and hold minimal representation in parliament, largely supported this constitutional overhaul.
The adoption of the new constitution was nearly unanimous, with only one legislator voting against and another abstaining during the Monday session.
However, it remains uncertain whether this revamped system will be implemented in time for the upcoming regional and legislative elections scheduled for next month.
In a related development, Togolese lawmakers had previously ratified a constitutional amendment in 2019, imposing a two-term limit on the presidency.
As this amendment did not apply retroactively, President Faure Gnassingbé, in power since 2005, remained eligible to contest two additional terms under the former regulations.