Togo has delayed
parliamentary and regional elections amid tensions following controversial
constitutional reform.
The reform approved by
lawmakers last week replaced the presidential system with a parliamentary one.
It also hands
executive power to the prime minister, reducing the presidency to a symbolic
role.
Opposition parties
have rejected the reform, fearing it could let President Faure Gnassingbé stay
in power.
He succeeded his
father, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who died in 2005 after ruling the country with an
iron fist for 38 years.
The presidency
announced the postponement of the elections on Wednesday, but did not give a
new date for the polls, which were initially due to be held on 20 April.
The Conference of
Togolese Catholic bishops has urged President Gnassingbé not to sign the
constitutional changes into law, citing the need for "broad consultation
and a more inclusive national debate".
Under the new system,
the president will be selected by parliament without debate for a single
six-year term, rather than being directly elected.
Opposition parties
boycotted Togo's previous elections and are poorly represented in Togo's
parliament.
As a result, the
constitution change was approved almost unanimously - with only one legislator
voting against and one other abstaining.
The presidency said on
Wednesday that the delay was to allow for "consultations" over the
contested constitutional changes.
"The National
Assembly wished to have some days to engage in broad consultations with all
stakeholders," the presidency's statement said.
The election delay
comes days after President Gnassingbé sent the contested law back to parliament
for a second reading, amid mounting criticism.
Source: BBC
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