TOGO

Summary of Recent Elections

LEGISLATIVE
July 25, 2013 91 Seats at the National Assembly (Assemble Nationale)

ELECTION ANALYSIS
The recent legislative elections in Togo brought an end to the negotiations, which began in June 2012, prior to the end of the parliaments mandate from October 2012. Indeed, requests made by the opposition to reform the electoral system led to large popular protests and put the elections on hold. The main opposition parties, together with civil society groups, accused President Faure Gnassingb of having altered various laws to favor his party, most notably by gerrymandering districts to increase the number of parliamentary seats held by the Union for the Republic (UNIR). As a result, the elections were first postponed to March 24, 2013, then to July, 12, 2013. Finally, following discussions regarding the release of three opposition candidates accused of arson in Lom and Kara, the final election date was set for July 25, 2013. Nevertheless, the opposition only managed to obtain minor concessions, and the key electoral reforms that had been requested since the start of the negotiations were ignored by Gnassingb. While the opposition was hoping to weaken the UNIR in the run up to the presidential elections of 2015, the ruling party actually managed to strengthen its control of the National Assembly, winning 62 seats out of 91.1 2 3 4 5 Summary of Recent Elections Legislative Elections July 25, 2013 The National Assembly (Assemble Nationale) Population and number of registered voters: Total population: 6.961.049 Registered Voters: 3,044,332

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Results:6 Candidate Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais (RPT) Collectif Sauvons le Togo Alliance Arc-en-ciel Union des Forces du Changement Independent Number of Seats (91) 62 19 6 3 1

Summary of Previous Elections Presidential Elections March 4, 20107 Population and number of registered voters: Total Population: 6.961.049 (2012)8 Registered Voters: 3,277 ,492 Results: Candidate Faure Gnassingb Jean-Pierre Fabre Yawovi Agboyibo Agbyom Kodjo Brigitte Adjamagbo-Johnson Bassabi Kagbara Nicolas Lawson Party Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais (RPT) Union des Forces de Changement (UFC) Comit dAction pour le Renouveau (CAR) Organisation pour Btir dans lUnion un Togo Solidaire (OBUTS) Convention Dmocratique des Peuples Africains (CDPA) Parti Dmocratique Panafricain (PDP) Parti du Renouveau et de la Rdemption (PRR) Votes 1,242,409 692,554 60,37 17 ,393 % of Votes 60.89% 33.94% 2.96% 0.85%

13,452 8,341 6,027

0.66% 0.41% 0.30%

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Legislative Elections October 14, 2007 The National Assembly (Assemble Nationale) Population and number of registered voters: Total Population: 6.961.049 Registered Voters: 2,974,718 Results:9 Party Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais (RPT) Union des Forces de Changement (UFC) Comit dAction pour le Renouveau (CAR) Number of Seats (81) 50 27 4

Presidential Elections April 24, 2005 Population and number of registered voters: Total Population: 6.961.049 Registered Voters: 3,599,306 Results:10 Candidate Faure Gnassingb Emmanuel Bob-Akitani Nicolas Lawson* Harry Olympio Party Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais (RPT) Union des Forces de Changement (UFC) Parti du Renouveau et de la Rdemption (PRR) Rassemblement pour le Soutien de la Dmocratie et du Dveloppement (RSDD) % of Votes 60.15% 38.25% 1.04% 0.55%

*Nicolas Lawson withdrew from the election on 23 April 2005, but his name remained on the ballot and he garnered votes.

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Major Political Parties11

Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais (RPT) / Rally of the Togolese People (largely replaced
by lUnion pour la Rpublique since April 2012)

Leadership: Faure Gnassingb (President) Founding date: August 30, 1969 Platform: Not Available

Union des Forces de Changement (UFC) / Union of Forces for Change Leadership: Gilchrist Olympio Founding date: February 1, 199212 Platform: (1) Promote political democracy based on a multiparty system, freedom to vote and the alternation of powers, freedom of press and the free flow of information, freedom of thought, the respect of universal human rights, the accountability of leaders to citizens and the rule of law. (2) Promote social democracy based on equality of opportunity, solidarity, the right to education, health and security, as well as tolerance (especially between ethnic groups and toward women). (3) Defend the national sovereignty and national unity of Togo, while promoting patriotism among citizens. (4) Promote sustainable devel-

opment based on economic freedom, entrepreneurship and institutional capacity building, the regionalization and decentralization of initiatives, demographic control, environmental protection, the empowerment of women, sub-regional and regional cooperation, with the ultimate goal of eradicating poverty and achieving human development. (5) Promote cooperation with all national and international organizations sharing these same goals. [translation]13 Comit dAction pour le Renouveau (CAR) / Action Committee for Renewal Leadership: Dodji Apvon (President) Founding date: April 1991 Platform: Not Available

Driving Issues
Two main issues have emerged throughout the political campaign as the key challenges to the future of the country: the economy and democratization. Togo is one of the most impoverished countries in the world, with a GDP per capita consistently ranked among the bottom twenty. Half of its population is living below the poverty line of US$1.25 a day 81.2% in rural

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which led to the current multiparty system characterized by open elections. However, authoritarianism remained the main feature of his government until his death. The 2005 election was marred by systematic fraud, voter intimidation, and widespread violence14 in favor of the Rally of the Togolese People (a defunct political party largely replaced by the UNIR), which led to the suspension of the European Unions aid. Furthermore, the UNIR maintains full control of the political process by limiting freedom of the press and manipulation of the judiciary. The modification of the electoral code in June 2012, is an example Following protests and unprecedented interof such behavior. Nevertheless, the political national pressure in the early 1990s, former campaign was marked by a wave of unprecpresident Gnassingb Eyadma was forced to edented criticisms of the regime which has end to his heavily authoritarian and one-party hampered UNIRs control of public opinion regime and to engage in democratic reform and may well threaten its political monopoly. areas - and access to public services remains limited. Though some progress has been noted by International Financial Institutions in recent years, the country remains highly dependent on the agricultural sector, which exposes its economy to strong fluctuations in world food and commodity prices. The governments commitment to IMF-recommended reforms aimed at attracting Foreign Direct Investment into other sectors has been implemented in a rather uncertain and inefficient manner. As a result, growth has remained sluggish and the economy fragile.14 15

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Endnotes
1 RFI (2013, 25 July). Lgislatives au Togo: une forte mobilisation et des tensions. Retrieved from : http://www.rfi. fr/afrique/20130725-togo-importante-mobilisation-legislatives-tension-radio Voice of America, via allAfrica (2013, 12 July). Togo: Elections Dogged By Questions Over Who Will Take Part. Retrieved from : http://allafrica.com/stories/201307130033. html AFP (2013, March 13). Togo opposition figure charged over market fires. Retrieved from : http://www.google. com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jvdl0UGniigleFN_ e9CA8pColTfg?docId=CNG.8d45d2812541cf5336b0edd0420c1ee7 .381&hl=en RFI (2013, 23 July). Fin de la campagne lectorale au Togo. Retrieved from: http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20130723-fin-campagne-electorale-togo 8 Index Mundi. (2012, 11 March). Population Demographics: Togo. Retrieved from: http://www.indexmundi.com/ fr/togo/population.html African Elections Database. (2010, 4 December). Elections in Togo. Retrieved from: http://africanelections. tripod.com/tg.html

10 African Elections Database. (2010, 4 December). Elections in Togo. Retrieved from: http://africanelections. tripod.com/tg.html 11 The parties chosen for analysis were determined on the number of votes each won respectively in the 2010 Presidential elections. 12 Union des Forces de Changement. Historique du Mouvement Patriotique Togolais. Retrieved from : http:// www.ufctogo.com/-Historique-.html 13 Union des Forces de Changement. Historique du Mouvement Patriotique Togolais. Retrieved from : http:// www.ufctogo.com/-Historique-.html 14 IMF (February 2010). Togo: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (2009-11). Retrieved from : http://www.imf.org/ external/pubs/ft/scr/2010/cr1033.pdf 15 CIA World Factbook (2013, February 2013). Togo Economy 2013. Retrived from : http://www.theodora.com/ wfbcurrent/togo/togo_economy.html 16 U.S. Department of State (2011, April 11). Human Rights Report: Togo. Retrieved from : http://www.state.gov/j/drl/ rls/hrrpt/2010/af/154374.htmResults:

5 Commission Electoral Nationale Indpendente (2013, 28 July). Lgislatives 2013 : la CENI proclame les rsultats provisoires. Retrieved from : http://www.ceni-tg.org/legislatives-2013-la-ceni-proclame-les-resultats-provisoires/ 6 Commission Electoral Nationale Indpendente (2013, 28 July). Lgislatives 2013 : la CENI proclame les rsultats provisoires. Retrieved from : http://www.ceni-tg.org/legislatives-2013-la-ceni-proclame-les-resultats-provisoires/ 7 African Elections Database. (2010, 4 December). Elections in Togo. Retrieved from: http://africanelections. tripod.com/tg.html

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