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{{Short description|none}}
{{Politics of Togo}}
{{Politics of Togo}}


'''Parliamentary elections''' will be held in [[Togo]] on 25 July 2013.<ref>http://allafrica.com/stories/201307130033.html</ref> They were originally scheduled for October 2012, but protests and strikes asking for electoral reforms delayed the process. After being rescheduled for 24 March 2013, they were postponed again, first to 21 July 2013,<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-03/07/c_132216239.htm Togo to kick off voter registration on March 15] Xinhua, 7 March 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jvdl0UGniigleFN_e9CA8pColTfg AFP via Google: Togo opposition figure charged over market fires]</ref> then to 25 July 2013.
Parliamentary elections were held in [[Togo]] on 25 July 2013.<ref>[http://allafrica.com/stories/201307130033.html Togo: Elections Dogged By Questions Over Who Will Take Part] Voice of America, 12 July 2013</ref> The ruling [[Union for the Republic (Togo)|Union for the Republic]] (UNIR) won 62 of the 91 seats in the [[National Assembly (Togo)|National Assembly]].


==Background==
==Opposition demands and protests==
Some members of the opposition are seeking a postponement of the election in order to see electoral reforms take effect prior to the election, while others seek the repeal of the changes as improperly induced. Amongst the latter is the controversial [[gerrymandering]] of constituency borders in favour of the incumbent [[Rally of the Togolese People]] party and the 10 seat increase in parliament bringing a total of 91 MPs.
Some members of the opposition sought a postponement in order to see electoral reforms take effect prior to the elections, while others sought the repeal of the changes as improperly introduced. Amongst the latter was the controversial [[gerrymandering]] of constituency borders in favour UNIR, led by President [[Faure Gnassingbé]], and the 10-seat increase in the number of members of the National Assembly from 81 to 91.


Though the government had forbidden street demonstrations in commercial areas, citing an inability to maintain security and public order, protests organisers from opposition and [[civil society]] groups pledged to carry out protests and denounced what they termed an attempt to stifle criticism. Protests termed "Let's Save Togo" were then planned for 21–23 August. On the first day, several thousand protesters commenced a march in [[Lome]]'s Be neighbourhood and then headed to the commercial district of Deckon, where 100 police officers were deployed. Trouble then arose amid a dispute as to whether the protest march would end in Deckon for a rally or proceed further. The protesters were then dispersed using tear gas 10 minutes after the march commenced.<ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/08/201282115275468353.html Al Jazeera: Togo police disperse fair vote rally]</ref>
Although the government banned street demonstrations in commercial areas, citing an inability to maintain security and public order, protest organizers from opposition and [[civil society]] groups pledged to carry out [[Protests against Faure Gnassingbé|protests]] and denounced what they termed an attempt to stifle criticism. Protests organized by the [[Let's Save Togo Collective]] were planned for 21–23 August. On the first day, several thousand protesters commenced a march in [[Lomé]]'s [[Bè]] neighbourhood and then headed to the commercial district of Deckon, where 100 police officers were deployed. Trouble then arose amid a dispute as to whether the protest march would end in Deckon for a rally or proceed further. The protesters were then dispersed using tear gas 10 minutes after the march commenced.<ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/08/201282115275468353.html Togo police disperse fair vote rally] Al Jazeera, 21 August 2012</ref>

The elections were originally scheduled for October 2012, but protests and strikes asking for electoral reforms delayed the process. After being rescheduled for 24 March 2013, they were postponed again, first to 21 July 2013,<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-03/07/c_132216239.htm Togo to kick off voter registration on March 15] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055046/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2013-03/07/c_132216239.htm |date=2013-09-21 }} Xinhua, 7 March 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.africareview.com/News/Key-Togo-opposition-figure-charged-over-market-fires/-/979180/1718990/-/r835crz/-/index.html Togo opposition figure charged over market fires] Africa Review, 13 March 2013</ref> then to 25 July 2013.

==Electoral system==
The 91 members of the National Assembly were elected by [[closed list]] [[proportional representation]] in 30 multi-member constituencies.<ref>[http://electionguide.org/election.php?ID=1643 Election Profile] IFES</ref>

==Results==
Initial results showed a landslide victory for UNIR, which was projected to win 60 out of 91 seats, with the remaining seats distributed among opposition parties. The opposition [[Union of Forces for Change]] suffered a defeat, losing most of their 27 seats. The [[National Alliance for Change]] (''Alliance national pour le changement'', ANC) was expected to become the largest opposition party.<ref>[http://www.togoactualite.com/legislatives-les-premieres-tendances-favorables-au-pouvoir-unir/ Législatives : les premières tendances favorables au pouvoir UNIR] Togo Actualité</ref>

{| class=wikitable style=text-align:right
|colspan=10 align=center|[[File:Togo Assemblée nationale 2013.svg]]
|-
!Party
!Votes
!%
!Seats
!+/–
|-
|align=left|[[Union for the Republic (Togo)|Union for the Republic]]||880,608||46.7||62||+12
|-
|align=left|[[Save Togo Collective]]||544,592||28.9||19||New
|-
|align=left|[[Rainbow Alliance (Togo)|Rainbow Alliance]]||204,143||10.8||6||+2
|-
|align=left|[[Union of Forces for Change]]||145,359||7.7||3||–24
|-
|align=left|[[Pan-African Patriotic Convergence]]||15,602||0.8||0||0
|-
|align=left|[[New Togolese Commitment]]||14,225||0.8||0||New
|-
|align=left|Other parties||66,171||3.5||0||–
|-
|align=left|Independents||14,360||0.8||1||+1
|-
|align=left|Invalid/blank votes||119,430||–||–||–
|-
|align=left|'''Total'''||'''2,011,203'''||'''100'''||'''91'''||'''+10'''
|-
|align=left|Registered voters/turnout||3,044,332||66.1||–||–
|-
|colspan=5 align=left|Source: [http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/t/togo/togo2013.txt Adam Carr]
|}

==Aftermath==
When the National Assembly began its new term, [[Dama Dramani]], a UNIR deputy, was elected as President of the National Assembly on 2 September 2013. Opposition deputies boycotted the vote as UNIR was unwilling to give them the posts of first and second vice-president in the Bureau of the National Assembly. Consequently UNIR deputies were elected to all of the 11 posts in the Bureau.<ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i9WsDQ3ws1zjn6BvJ-D_aNVrMvLA?docId=81439108-8b9a-4e1d-b514-1cc7c17482c0&hl=en Le Togo élit un nouveau président de l'Assemblée Nationale]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} AFP, 2 September 2013 {{in lang|fr}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ceni-tg.org/ Togo Independent Electoral Commission]


{{Togolese elections}}
{{Togolese elections}}


[[Category:Elections in Togo]]
[[Category:Elections in Togo]]
[[Category:2013 elections in Africa]]
[[Category:2013 elections in Africa|Togo]]
[[Category:2013 in Togo]]
[[Category:2013 in Togo|Parliamentary]]
[[Category:Election and referendum articles with incomplete results]]
[[Category:July 2013 events in Africa|Togo]]

Latest revision as of 00:56, 12 October 2024

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Parliamentary elections were held in Togo on 25 July 2013.[1] The ruling Union for the Republic (UNIR) won 62 of the 91 seats in the National Assembly.

Background

[edit]

Some members of the opposition sought a postponement in order to see electoral reforms take effect prior to the elections, while others sought the repeal of the changes as improperly introduced. Amongst the latter was the controversial gerrymandering of constituency borders in favour UNIR, led by President Faure Gnassingbé, and the 10-seat increase in the number of members of the National Assembly from 81 to 91.

Although the government banned street demonstrations in commercial areas, citing an inability to maintain security and public order, protest organizers from opposition and civil society groups pledged to carry out protests and denounced what they termed an attempt to stifle criticism. Protests organized by the Let's Save Togo Collective were planned for 21–23 August. On the first day, several thousand protesters commenced a march in Lomé's Bè neighbourhood and then headed to the commercial district of Deckon, where 100 police officers were deployed. Trouble then arose amid a dispute as to whether the protest march would end in Deckon for a rally or proceed further. The protesters were then dispersed using tear gas 10 minutes after the march commenced.[2]

The elections were originally scheduled for October 2012, but protests and strikes asking for electoral reforms delayed the process. After being rescheduled for 24 March 2013, they were postponed again, first to 21 July 2013,[3][4] then to 25 July 2013.

Electoral system

[edit]

The 91 members of the National Assembly were elected by closed list proportional representation in 30 multi-member constituencies.[5]

Results

[edit]

Initial results showed a landslide victory for UNIR, which was projected to win 60 out of 91 seats, with the remaining seats distributed among opposition parties. The opposition Union of Forces for Change suffered a defeat, losing most of their 27 seats. The National Alliance for Change (Alliance national pour le changement, ANC) was expected to become the largest opposition party.[6]

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Union for the Republic 880,608 46.7 62 +12
Save Togo Collective 544,592 28.9 19 New
Rainbow Alliance 204,143 10.8 6 +2
Union of Forces for Change 145,359 7.7 3 –24
Pan-African Patriotic Convergence 15,602 0.8 0 0
New Togolese Commitment 14,225 0.8 0 New
Other parties 66,171 3.5 0 –
Independents 14,360 0.8 1 +1
Invalid/blank votes 119,430 – – –
Total 2,011,203 100 91 +10
Registered voters/turnout 3,044,332 66.1 – –
Source: Adam Carr

Aftermath

[edit]

When the National Assembly began its new term, Dama Dramani, a UNIR deputy, was elected as President of the National Assembly on 2 September 2013. Opposition deputies boycotted the vote as UNIR was unwilling to give them the posts of first and second vice-president in the Bureau of the National Assembly. Consequently UNIR deputies were elected to all of the 11 posts in the Bureau.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Togo: Elections Dogged By Questions Over Who Will Take Part Voice of America, 12 July 2013
  2. ^ Togo police disperse fair vote rally Al Jazeera, 21 August 2012
  3. ^ Togo to kick off voter registration on March 15 Archived 2013-09-21 at the Wayback Machine Xinhua, 7 March 2013
  4. ^ Togo opposition figure charged over market fires Africa Review, 13 March 2013
  5. ^ Election Profile IFES
  6. ^ Législatives : les premières tendances favorables au pouvoir UNIR Togo Actualité
  7. ^ Le Togo élit un nouveau président de l'Assemblée Nationale[dead link‍] AFP, 2 September 2013 (in French)
[edit]
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