Togolese legislature votes to allow citizens outside the country to vote in elections

For the first time in its history, Togo’s citizens outside the country can vote in elections. This comes after Members of Parliament (MPs) voted on the matter on November 6, 2019.

Togo’s opposition parties have been calling for this change, especially with general elections coming off in 2020. But the governing UNIR had rejected the calls in the past.

But this comes as a very small victory juxtaposed with what President Faure Gnassingbe Eyadema’s allies in parliament have been able to secure.

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Earlier this year, the legislature changed the constitution, making way for the president to contest one more election after next year. President Eyadema has presided over the country since his father died in 2012.

Opposition leader, Gilchrist Olympio, whose father was Togo’s first president, had called for the President not to run in next year’s polls.

Togo’s population is just under eight million making it one of the smallest countries in the world.