Togo’s parliament is to debate a bill on Friday that seeks to reduce the term limit of the president following series of protests across the West African nation calling for an end to the 50-year Gnassingbe dynasty.
A new two-round voting system is also being drafted as part of the bill but not all Togolese are excited, with opposition leaders saying the bill could be drafted to allow President Faure Gnassingbe to seek re-election.
The head of the country’s national assembly on Wednesday said that government bills will be worked on from Friday despite earlier expectations that constitutional reform discussions would take place on Tuesday.
National Assembly president Dama Dramani said “We are in an urgent situation. That’s why we are going to disregard our procedures to end the session tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday we will look at the government’s bill.”
He called on the constitutional law commission that examines proposed changes to look at the bill and make recommendations as quickly as possible, according to the AFP report.
The United Nation has backed demands for constitutional reforms including term limits for the president to prevent escalation of the current political crisis in the country.
The President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe is coming under immense pressure to give in to agitations from Togolese protesting against his family’s ruling dynasty.
Faure Gnassingbe took over from his father Eyadema 12 years ago after he died while in power for 38 years. He has since won elections in 2005, 2010 and 2015 but got the two-term limit for presidents scrapped a year ago to allow him to further prolong his rule.
Source: Africafeeds.com
