Togo’s ruling party, led by President Faure Gnassingbé, has won 34 of the 41 Senate seats contested in an election, according to provisional results released on Sunday.
The Senate vote, held on Saturday by 1,706 municipal and regional lawmakers, marks the final step in establishing a new constitution proposed by Gnassingbé in the West African nation of nine million people.
Opposition parties largely boycotted the election, condemning the reforms, which abolish presidential elections and transfer executive power to a newly created role—the president of the council—who will be appointed by Togo’s ruling party.
Gnassingbé has ruled since 2005 following his father’s death, and critics argue the constitutional changes are designed to extend his control. Under the previous system, he would have been eligible for only one more term in 2025.
His Union for the Republic party already secured 108 of 111 seats in April’s legislative elections. Once the Senate is fully formed, lawmakers from both chambers will vote for the president of the council. An additional 20 Senate seats will be appointed by the prime minister.
Foreign media were not granted accreditation to cover the Senate election, as was also the case for the legislative vote.