LOME, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Togo's National Assembly adopted amendments to the country's constitution Monday night, switching the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system, according to a government statement issued Tuesday.
A majority of 89 out of 91 deputies voted in favor of the new amendments to the Togolese constitution, which put an end to the holding of presidential elections.
According to the communique, the president of the republic will be elected by parliament meeting in congress for a single term of six years. Until then, the term of office of the Togolese president, elected by direct suffrage, was five years, renewable once.
The constitutional text adopted has created a new post of "President of the Council of Ministers," elected for a six-year term, who will have considerable authority in the management of government affairs and will be accountable to parliament.
According to Tchitchao Tchalim, chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Constitutional Laws, Legislation and General Administration, once this text comes into force, "the Head of State is practically stripped of his powers in favor of the President of the Council of Ministers, who becomes the person who represents the Togolese Republic abroad and effectively runs the country in its daily administration."
This new text should formalize Togo's entry into the Fifth Republic, as the country prepares to hold legislative elections on April 20, along with regional elections, to elect a National Assembly of 113 deputies. ■
