Highlights: In Togo, political opponents and civil society oscillate between surprise and anger. Reactions are strong on April 4, 2024, the day after the postponement of the legislative and regional elections. This is a “ slight rearrangement of the electoral calendar”, according to the presidency. The National Assembly carries out consultations around the new Constitution. This text, voted on by the deputies around ten days ago when their mandate expired at the end of December, is rejected by the opposition.

In Togo, political opponents and civil society oscillate between surprise and anger. The reactions are strong, this April 4, 2024, the day after the postponement of the legislative and regional elections which...

Togo: the opposition angry after the further postponement of legislative and regional elections

In Togo, political opponents and civil society oscillate between surprise and anger. Reactions are strong on April 4, 2024, the day after the postponement of the legislative and regional elections which were scheduled for April 20. An announcement from the presidency that came just a few hours before the opening of the campaign. This is a “

slight rearrangement of the

electoral calendar”, according to the presidency, while the National Assembly carries out consultations around the new Constitution. This text, voted on by the deputies around ten days ago when their mandate expired at the end of December, is rejected by the opposition.

View of a polling station in Lomé, Togo, February 22, 2020. (illustration) AP - Sunday Alamba

By: RFI Follow

Meetings and consultations took place this Thursday, April 4, in political parties and Togolese civil society. Several opposition groups, including Jean-Pierre Fabre's National Alliance for Change (ANC), are asking their candidates to campaign, despite the

postponement of the double vote

for which no new date has yet been announced. They also plan to organize demonstrations soon.

Several candidates regret the surprise effect of Wednesday's announcement. They point out that costs have already been incurred and that activists are deployed on the ground.

According to the Togolese government, this postponement was decided so that consultations could take place around the new Constitution which President

Faure Gnassingbé

sent back to the National Assembly

for a second reading

. At the Assembly, it is affirmed that arrangements will be made quickly to collect contributions.

The format of these consultations will be defined by the office and by the law commission. It is not certain that the opponents of the text will agree to take part in it. Some believe that the Assembly no longer has legitimacy, its mandate having ended several weeks ago. Others think that those in power absolutely want to reform and that discussion is therefore pointless.

Also readConstitutional revision in Togo: “It is not the date that counts but the quality of the process”

Togo: the opposition angry after the further postponement of legislative and regional elections

Togo: the opposition angry after the further postponement of legislative and regional elections

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