Togo Elects First President Under New Parliamentary System

On May 3, the Parliament of Togo elected Jean-Lucien Savie DeToff as the country's first president under the new parliamentary system. The Parliament of Togo is bicameral, consisting of the National Assembly and the Senate, with a total of 174 seats. On that day, 150 members were present. DeToff, the sole candidate, was elected unanimously with 150 votes in favor. Following the election, DeToff took the oath of office to assume his new role.

DeToff, born in 1939 in the capital city of Lomé, served as the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Handicrafts from 2005 to 2007. His election marks a significant transition in Togo's political landscape, as the country shifts from a semi-presidential system to a parliamentary one. This change is expected to bring about a more collaborative approach to governance, with the president serving as a figurehead while the prime minister holds executive power.

In the morning of the same day, Faure Gnassingbé was sworn in as the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. His party, the Union for the Republic, won 108 out of 113 seats in the National Assembly during the parliamentary elections held on April 29, 2023. According to the constitution, Gnassingbé, as the leader of the majority party, assumed the role of Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

In 2024, Togo enacted a constitutional amendment that transitioned the country's political system from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary one. The new constitution designates the president as a symbolic head of state, elected by the parliament for a four-year term with the possibility of one re-election. Additionally, the new constitution establishes the position of Chairman of the Council of Ministers, who serves as the head of government and manages both domestic and foreign affairs. This role is held by the leader of the majority party or coalition in the parliament for a six-year term. The new constitution provides a 12-month transition period for Togo to fully adopt the parliamentary system, during which the incumbent president continues to exercise their powers.