In Togo, the identity of the inaugural President of the Council is set to be revealed. This significant appointment, marking a pivotal moment in the transition to the Fifth Republic, will occur on Saturday, May 3, 2025, during a plenary session dedicated to this matter. The announcement was made by the President of the National Assembly, in line with Article 47 of the Constitution.
The session will commence at 7 a.m. in the chamber of the annex building of the National Assembly in Lomé. Additionally, the first congress of the Togolese Parliament, which will convene deputies and senators, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the same location. It is important to note that the President of the Council serves as the head of government in Togo, overseeing national policy, presiding over cabinet meetings, appointing civil and military officials, managing diplomatic relations, exercising regulatory authority, initiating legislation, and possessing the power to dissolve the Assembly.
Furthermore, this individual is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and a guarantor of institutional integrity. This milestone represents a significant advancement in the ongoing institutional reform process within the country. The formation of the Council, which is the cornerstone of the new parliamentary framework, is drawing the attention of political and economic stakeholders, as well as the general public. It is also noteworthy that the President of the Council is selected from among the leaders of the majority party or the leading coalition party with a majority in the National Assembly.
This appointment is formalized through a written notification sent to the Bureau of the National Assembly, which acknowledges it in a plenary session. Furthermore, it is essential to recall that the recent legislative elections were predominantly won by the Union for the Republic (UNIR) party, which secured 108 out of 113 seats, accounting for nearly 96% of the total. Therefore, it is widely anticipated that Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, the current president of Togo and leader of the UNIR party, will be appointed as the first President of the Council of Ministers.
