At the heart of the electoral process lies a proposed new constitution, under which presidential elections would be abolished, and lawmakers would assume the authority to elect the president. This measure, vehemently opposed by the opposition and clergy, is viewed as a bid by President Faure Gnassingbe to extend his grip on power.
Critics decry what they perceive as a brazen attempt to entrench dynastic rule, as Togo has been under the dominance of the Gnassingbe family for 57 years, initially by Eyadema Gnassingbe and subsequently by his son. Faure Gnassingbe has been in office since 2005, after winning elections that the opposition described as a sham.
