LOME, Togo (AP) — Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe has signed a controversial new constitution that eliminates presidential elections, a statement from his office said late Monday. It’s a move that opponents say will allow him to extend his family’s six-decade-long rule. Under the new legislation, parliament will have the power to choose the president, doing away with direct elections. The election commission on Saturday announced that Gnassingbe’s ruling party had won a majority of seats in the West African nation’s parliament. Ahead of the vote, there was a crackdown on civic and media freedoms. The government banned protests against the proposed new constitution and arrested opposition figures. The electoral commission banned the Catholic Church from deploying election observers. In mid-April, a French journalist who arrived to cover the elections was arrested, assaulted and expelled. Togo’s media regulator later suspended the accreditation process for foreign journalists. |
Xi Congratulates Cyril Ramaphosa on ReXi Story: A Chinese New Year TraditionXi Stresses Systematic Protection of Intangible Cultural HeritageXi Extends Condolences to Pakistani President over Severe Terror Attack in PeshawarChinese Leaders Extend Spring Festival Greetings to Veteran ComradesCPC disciplinary watchdog gives inspection feedbackWhat's New for China's New Development Pattern and Why Is It crucial?Country plays leading role in intl patent applicationChinese vice premier stresses implementation of projects funded by gov't bondsXi Focus: Xi Stresses Efforts to Accelerate Establishment of New Pattern of Development