2007 Togolese parliamentary election

none Togo 2002 2013 14 October 2007 All 81 seats in the National Assembly 41 85.14% ( 17.71pp) Rally of the Togolese People Faure Gnassingbé 72 40.19 50 Union of Forces for Change Gilchrist Olympio New 37.79 27 CAR Yawovi Agboyibo New 8.39 4 Map of the 2007 Togolese parliamentary election.svg Results by constituency Prime Minister Yawovi Agboyibo CAR Komlan Mally Rally of the Togolese People Parliamentary elections were held in Togo on October 14, 2007 for the 81 seats in the National Assembly."L'Assemblée nationale dissoute, les législatives annoncées pour le 14 octobre", Xinhua (Jeuneafrique.com), August 31, 2007 fr."Togo re-schedules legislative polls for 14 October"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , African Press Agency, August 31, 2007."Agboyibo fin prêt pour les législatives", Republicoftogo.com, September 13, 2007 fr. There were over 2,000 candidates, with 32 parties and 41 lists of independent candidates competing."Une campagne blanc, rouge, jaune"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , Republicoftogo.com, October 1, 2007 fr. The ruling Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) was victorious, winning a majority of 50 seats. The remaining seats were won by opposition parties; the Union of the Forces of Change (UFC) won 27 seats and the Action Committee for Renewal (CAR) won four seats."Le RPT remporte les premières élections pluralistes" https://web.archive.org/web/20080124160727/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=1&s=0&d=3&i=1204 2008-01-24 , Republicoftogo.com, October 30, 2007 fr. They were the first parliamentary elections since the beginning of multiparty politics in the early 1990s in which all major parties participated."Jour de vote"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , Republicoftogo.com, October 14, 2007 fr. Background The 2007 elections were the first parliamentary elections to be held following the February 2005 death of long-time President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who was succeeded by his son, Faure Gnassingbé, elected in April 2005. They followed an agreement between parties in August 2006 and the appointment of a government incorporating the opposition and headed by an opposition leader, Yawovi Agboyibo, in September 2006."Togo's polls will test ruling party and chances of foreign aid" https://web.archive.org/web/20071012094240/http://www.eubusiness.com/news_live/1191986221.67 2007-10-12 , EUbusiness.com, October 10, 2007."Le Togo a voté en masse"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , Republicoftogo.com, October 15, 2007 fr. The elections were originally scheduled for June 24, 2007, but in May they were delayed until 5 August."Togo postpones parliamentary polls to 5 August"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , African Press Agency, May 15, 2007. On July 5, it was delayed again by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), although no new date was announced at that time."Togolese electoral commission postpones legislative elections", Xinhua (People's Daily Online), July 7, 2007."Togolese election watchdog postpones legislative polls again"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , African Press Agency, July 7, 2007. This delay was caused by a delay in the holding of an electoral census, which was planned to be held from June 8 to July 9 but was rescheduled to run from July 16 to August 17."Recensement électoral : De sérieux soucis pour la CENI" https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222340/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=5&s=44&d=3&i=806 2007-09-27 , Republicoftogo.com, July 13, 2007 fr. The census was scheduled to be conducted in one part of the country, called Zone A, from July 16 to July 29, and in another part, called Zone B, from August 4 to August 17; in the remaining part of the country, comprising Lomé and Golfe Prefecture, the census was scheduled to be conducted throughout the period. The end date for the census in Zone A was subsequently extended to August 1,"Trois jours de plus pour le recensement" https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222531/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=6&s=849&d=3&i=842 2007-09-27 , Republicoftogo.com, July 29, 2007 fr. and the census in Zone B was delayed until August 6, with the end date being extended until August 19."Zone B : début du recensement le 6 août" https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222457/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=6&s=842&d=3&i=859 2007-09-27 , Republicoftogo.com, August 4, 2007 fr. Veteran opposition leader Gilchrist Olympio of the Union of the Forces of Change (UFC) arrived in Togo on August 18 and registered to vote. He said that CENI's work was "not too bad given the means at its disposal" and that the census was "encouraging"; he also urged people to register."Législatives au Togo : Gilchrist Olympio s'inscrit sur une liste électorale", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), August 19, 2007 fr. The 2007 elections were the first parliamentary elections in which the UFC had participated since the beginning of multiparty politics in the early 1990s."Les candidats s'y collent !", Republicoftogo.com, September 30, 2007 fr. On August 23, Revival and Redemption Party (PRR) leader Nicolas Lawson called on the people to vote, describing the elections as a "decisive step forward" and saying that the country "must return to democratic principles, to survive and to develop". He was critical of independent candidates, who he said did not have political programs and would only increase confusion in a country that already had about 80 parties."Législatives : le PRR appelle les électeurs à une participation massive", Xinhua (Jeuneafrique.com), August 23, 2007 fr. Following the census, CENI spent one month, beginning on August 30, eliminating fraud from the electoral list by searching for voters who registered more than once through a computer system comparing fingerprints. Voters who registered more than once were given until August 30 to come forward about this so that the electoral list could be corrected; they were warned that they would face prosecution if they did not do so."Detection of fraud in Togolese electoral census to take one month ", Xinhua (People's Daily Online), August 23, 2007. On 20 September, nine new members of the Constitutional Court were sworn in; this followed the appointment of a new head of the Court, Aboudou Assouma, by Gnassingbé on 17 September."Togo's new constitutional court sworn in for coming parliamentary elections", Xinhua (People's Daily Online), September 21, 2007. In CENI's review of the electoral census, about 7,000 doubled names were found. The local independent electoral commission (CELI) for Lomé was dissolved by CENI for failing to respect its instructions with regard to multiple registration on September 23.s"La Céni impose des sanctions", Republicoftogo.com, September 24, 2007 fr. On September 29, a new Lomé CELI was installed by CENI President Tozim Potopéré."Les recommandations de Tozim Potopéré"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , Republicoftogo.com, October 1, 2007. Electoral system The 81 seats in the National Assembly were elected by proportional representation in several multi-member constituencies. Seats were allotted based on the system of highest averages."Comment sont décomptés les suffrages"July 2018 InternetArchiveBot no , Republicoftogo.com, October 14, 2007 fr. Campaign On August 30, it was announced that National Assembly had been dissolved, that the elections would be held on October 14, and that campaigning would run from September 29 to October 12. On the same day, the 162 candidates of the UFC (including their substitutes) were invested by Olympio at a UFC extraordinary congress in Nyékonakpoe, a district of Lomé."Législatives: 162 militants en lice pour l'UFC", Xinhua (Jeuneafrique.com), August 30, 2007 fr."L’UFC prête pour les législatives" https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222505/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=17&s=0&d=3&i=891 2007-09-27 , Republicoftogo.com, August 31, 2007 fr. The ruling Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) invested its 162 candidates (including substitutes) on September 7"Le RPT désigne 162 candidats dont 21 femmes pour les législatives", Xinhua (Jeuneafrique.com), September 7, 2007 fr."Le RPT aligne 162 candidats", Republicoftogo.com, September 8, 2007 fr. at the Palace of Congresses in Lomé. These candidates included Minister of Defense Kpatcha Gnassingbé, Minister of Social Affairs and the Protection of Women Memounatou Ibrahima, Minister of Labor, Employment and the Civil Service Katari Foli-Bazi, National Assembly President Abass Bonfoh, and National Assembly Vice-President Eric Kpadé. The Socialist Pact for Renewal (PSR) invested its 130 candidates on September 8 in Atakpamé."130 candidats pour le PSR", Republicoftogo.com, September 11, 2007 fr. Prime Minister Yawovi Agboyibo's party, the Committee of Action for Renewal (CAR), invested its 162 candidates on September 12 in Lomé; its candidates included Agboyibo, the party's president, Gahoun Georges Hégbor, CAR's vice-president and also Minister of Communication, and Ouro-Bossi Tchacondoh, who was Deputy Minister in charge of Local Communities. On the same day, the Democratic Alliance for the Fatherland (the Alliance), led by Dahuku Péré, invested its 104 candidates in Notsé. Its candidates stood in 19 prefectures, as well as Lomé. The Democratic Convention of the African People (CDPA), led by Minister of State for Mines and Energy Léopold Gnininvi, presented its 162 candidates on September 13 in Lomé; the candidates included Gnininvi, Minister of Higher Education and Research Messan Adimado Aduayom, and Deputy Minister of the Informal Sector Lydia Adanlété."Pour Léopold Gnininvi, le processus électoral est « crédible »", Republicoftogo.com, September 14, 2007 fr. Gnininvi praised CENI's "remarkable work" and said that the electoral census had ensured "a credible process"."Le dirigeant d'un parti d'opposition salue le climat d'apaisement", Xinhua (Jeuneafrique.com), September 14, 2007 fr. The High Authority for Audiovisuals and Communication conducted a draw on September 27 to determine the sequence of campaign airtime for political parties in the media. The Coordination of New Forces, a minor political party led by Joseph Kokou Koffigoh, won the right to speak first on TVT."La CFN ouvre l'antenne", Republicoftogo.com, September 28, 2007 fr. Conduct Following an agreement on conditions signed by the European Union and the Togolese government on August 3, election observers from the European Union were scheduled to arrive on 16 August and continue to observe all election events from that point on."Togo, EU sign agreement on observation of legislative elections", Xinhua (People's Daily Online), August 4, 2007. CENI said that over 800,000 voters had registered by August 2, halfway through the census."Over 800,000 Togolese register for elections", Xinhua (People's Daily Online), August 4, 2007. EU observers began to deploy in Togo on September 18, beginning with 18 observers."Les premiers observateurs européens se déploient", Republicoftogo.com, September 19, 2007 fr. These 18 "long-term" observers were subsequently joined by 62 "short-term" observers who arrived on October 6, including the head of the observer mission, Fiona Hall."Fiona Hall bien entourée"July 2018 InternetArchiveBot no , Republicoftogo.com, October 8, 2007 fr. On October 11, six Members of the European Parliament—Valdis Dombrovskis, Patrick Gaubert, Horst Posdorf, Marie-Arlette Carlotti, Neena Gill, and Johan Van Hecke—also arrived to play a part in the observation mission."Arrivée à Lomé des députés européens" https://web.archive.org/web/20090617235412/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=5&s=83&d=3&i=1132 2009-06-17 , Republicoftogo.com, October 11, 2007 fr. European Union aid to Togo had been suspended since 1993, and the resumption of EU aid was said to depend on whether the 2007 elections were deemed "free and transparent". There were expected to be about 3,500 observers in total, both from Togo and abroad; aside from the EU, other organizations that intended to have observers in place included La Francophonie and the African Union."Grandes manoeuvres", Republicoftogo.com, September 25, 2007 fr. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) deployed a team of 140 observers, both military and civilian, on 2 October 2007."ECOWAS moves to ensure security in Togolese polls", Xinhua (People's Daily Online), October 4, 2007. In early October, a final total of 2,974,718 registered voters was announced by CENI. CENI also announced that there would be a total of 396 lists competing in the elections, including those for both parties and independents."Parlons chiffres"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , Republicoftogo.com, October 2, 2007 fr. A point of dispute regarding the conduct of the elections was whether ballot papers should be authenticated by being signed by two polling stations officials as a measure to prevent fraud. The UFC was in favor of this, but the RPT and the CAR were not."Le code électoral, et rien que lui"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , Republicoftogo.com, October 9, 2007 fr. On October 10, it was agreed to have the ballot papers stamped rather than signed."Des électeurs timbrés"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , Republicoftogo.com, October 10, 2007 fr. On October 11, the army and security forces voted three days early so that they would be fully available to maintain peace and order on election day. Their votes were not to be counted until the general population voted on October 14."Les corps habillés ont voté"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , Republicoftogo.com, October 14, 2007 fr. On election day, electoral observers noted that turnout appeared to be high."Législatives au Togo: fin du vote et début du dépouillement", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), October 15, 2007 fr. President Gnassingbé voted in Lomé, praising the electoral process and expressing his faith in it. The UFC criticized what it said was the failure of some ballot papers to be properly stamped,"L’UFC pousse le bouchon un peu loin"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , Republicoftogo.com, October 15, 2007 fr. which it described as intentional. According to CENI, ballot papers are valid even if they are not stamped. Claiming irregularities in the vote counting,Selah Hennessy, https://archive.today/20071022023214/http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-10-17-voa40.cfm "Togo Opposition Disputes Vote Count", VOA News, October 17, 2007. the UFC issued a statement on October 16 urging the people "to be mobilized to save their victory"."Jeu dangereux" https://web.archive.org/web/20071019132115/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=5&s=83&d=3&i=1161 2007-10-19 , Republicoftogo.com, October 17, 2007 fr. Also on October 16, Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Development & Humanitarian Aid, praised the elections for what he described as their calmness and high voter turnout and the "confidence and maturity of the Togolese people in the exercise of democracy"."L’UE se félicite du déroulement du scrutin" https://web.archive.org/web/20071019131710/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=5&s=83&d=3&i=1156 2007-10-19 , Republicoftogo.com, October 16, 2007 fr. On the same day, the EU observer mission said the elections were marked by "satisfactory conditions" and high turnout,"« Volonté de construire une démocratie pluraliste »" https://web.archive.org/web/20071019131602/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=5&s=83&d=3&i=1159 2007-10-19 , Republicoftogo.com, October 17, 2007 fr. and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which had 152 observers present, deemed the elections to be "free, fair and open"."Togo's elections 'free and fair' - monitors", AFP (IOL), October 16, 2007. The African Union also gave a positive assessment of the elections on October 17, although it pointed to some areas for improvement, such as providing sufficient electoral material and the way proxy voting was used."L’UA satisfaite du scrutin" https://web.archive.org/web/20071019184004/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=5&s=83&d=3&i=1163 2007-10-19 , Republicoftogo.com, October 17, 2007 fr. Results Late on October 17, CENI President Potopéré announced provisional results for most seats."Le RPT sort victorieux du scrutin" https://web.archive.org/web/20071019132209/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=5&s=83&d=3&i=1166 2007-10-19 , Republicoftogo.com, October 18, 2007 fr. These results showed the RPT with a majority of 49 out of 81 seats, the UFC with 21 seats, and the CAR with four seats, while the outcome for seven seats was still to be determined. Turnout was placed at 95%,"Togo ruling party wins election", BBC News, October 18, 2007. with 2,820,845 out of 2,974,718 registered voters participating. On October 19, additional results gave the UFC two seats from Golfe Prefecture, leaving only five seats from Lomé to be declared."L’UFC crie à la fraude mais gagne deux sièges"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , Republicoftogo.com, October 19, 2007 fr."Togolese opposition UFC wins two more seats in Lome"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , African Press Agency, October 19, 2007. On October 20, Olympio said that the UFC, which alleged that almost 40,000 of its supporters' votes were deliberately annulled during the vote counting and demanded a recount, would appeal to the Constitutional Court regarding the results."Olympio fait la Cour"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , Republicoftogo.com, October 21, 2007 fr. On October 21, CENI announced that it was not going to publish provisional results for Lomé due to problems and was submitting a report to the Constitutional Court. The problems included more than 300 of the 751 ballot boxes not being properly sealed, an inability to specify the polling stations from which some of the results came, and some polling stations' results being recorded multiple times."Le cas de Lomé pose problème"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , Republicoftogo.com, October 22, 2007 fr."Electoral body refers release of Lome provisional results to Constitutional court"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , African Press Agency, October 22, 2007. On October 23, CENI, on an injunction from the Constitutional Court, released the provisional results for Lomé. These results showed the UFC winning four of the seats and the RPT winning one, leaving the RPT with a total of 50 seats and the UFC with a total of 27."Le RPT obtient 50 sièges"September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes , Republicoftogo.com, October 24, 2007 fr.Jean-Claude Abalo, "Législatives au Togo : le parti d’opposition UFC vainqueur à Lomé-Commune", Afrik.com, October 25, 2007 fr. According to the provisional results for Lomé, there were 378,002 voters and 10,619 invalid votes; the UFC won 256,363 votes and the RPT won 54,102. Across the country, provisional results showed the RPT winning 922,636 votes, the UFC winning 867,507 votes, and the CAR winning 192,218 votes. Patrick Lawson, the third vice-president of the UFC, said on October 24 that the party might be willing to participate in a new national unity government, but only under certain "clearly defined" conditions."Les « conditions » de l’UFC pour entrer au gouvernement", Republicoftogo.com, October 25, 2007 fr. On October 30, the Constitutional Court confirmed the results of the elections; 50 seats for the RPT, 27 for the UFC, and four for the CAR.Jean-Claude Abalo, "Togo : la Cour constitutionnelle confirme les résultats des législatives", Afrik.com, October 30, 2007 fr.Text of the Constitutional Court decision https://web.archive.org/web/20071129155756/http://www.cenitogo.tg/resultats/Resultats_definitifs_des_elections_legislatives_du_14_octobre_2007_%20proclames_par_la_Cour_Constitutionnelle.do.pdf 2007-11-29 fr. It revised voter turnout downward to 85%, placing the number of voters at 2,526,049, with 2,344,108 valid votes and 181,941 invalid votes, and it rejected 20 appeals. The UFC disputed the Court's results, with its Secretary-General, Jean-Pierre Fabre, describing them on October 31 as "neither credible nor acceptable" and saying that they did not represent the voters' will, and he demanded that the Court "seriously examine" the appeals."Le dernier contestataire" https://web.archive.org/web/20071114001225/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=5&s=1&d=3&i=1213 2007-11-14 , Republicoftogo.com, October 31, 2007."Togo: Opposition challenges election results released by Constitutional court"July 2018 InternetArchiveBot no , African Press Agency, October 31, 2007. Fabre also accused the Court of "abetting the power grab orchestrated by the RPT through the Independent National Electoral Commission". On the same day, RPT Secretary-General Solitoki Esso expressed the ruling party's willingness to work with anyone of goodwill."Solitoki Esso : « Le RPT est un parti de dialogue »", Republicoftogo.com, October 30, 2007 fr. On November 1, President Gnassingbé called for the results to be respected by all and said that he hoped that politicians would work together "in a spirit of unity and reconciliation" for the sake of the nation."Togo: le président Gnassingbé invite au respect des résultats des législatives", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), November 1, 2007 fr. File:Togo Assemblée nationale 2007.svg Rally of the Togolese People 922636 50 –22 Union of Forces for Change 867507 27 New Action Committee for Renewal 192618 4 New Pan-African Patriotic Convergence 43898 0 New Democratic Convention of African Peoples 38347 0 New Party for Democracy and Renewal 24260 0 New Socialist Pact for Renewal 23254 0 New Alliance of Democrats for Integral Development 21441 0 New Democratic Alliance for the Fatherland 15444 0 New Pan-African Democratic Party 14141 0 New Citizens' Movement for Democracy and Development 12741 0 New Union for Democracy and Social Progress 8362 0 –2 The Nest 8269 0 New Popular Union for the Republic 7814 0 New Togolese Alliance of Democrats 7542 0 New Party for Renewal and Redemption 5211 0 New Union of Socialist Democrats of Togo 4229 0 New red Juvento 3873 0 –2 New Popular Dynamic 3536 0 New Movement of Centrist Republicans 3157 0 New Coordination of New Forces 2170 0 New Believers' Movement for Equality and Peace 1718 0 –1 Regrouping of the Live Forces of Youth for Change 1550 0 New Party of Action for Change in Togo 1056 0 New Youth and Dignity 710 0 New Party of the Union for Renovation and Development 221 0 New National Workers' Salvation Party 140 0 New African Front for Democracy and Development 114 0 New Independents 59614 0 –1 180836 0 2908487 Election Passport Aftermath Gnassingbé and Olympio met in Ouagadougou on November 2, along with President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso, who acted as mediator. According to Compaoré, Gnassingbé said that he would invite the opposition to participate in the government. Olympio held out the possibility that the UFC would participate; Compaoré anticipated that the UFC would present conditions for its participation."Togo's leader, opposition may form unity government", AFP, November 2, 2007."Gouvernement : Faure va contacter l’opposition" https://web.archive.org/web/20071105052033/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=1&s=0&d=3&i=1216 2007-11-05 , Republicoftogo.com, November 3, 2007 fr. The new National Assembly opened on November 13. Its first meeting was chaired by the oldest deputy, Koffi Agbényéga Voule-Frititi of the RPT (age 73), along with the youngest deputy, Mawulikplim Moïse Sodahlon (age 32) of the UFC."Rentrée solennelle de la nouvelle Assemblée nationale togolaise"July 2018 InternetArchiveBot no , African Press Agency, November 13, 2007 fr. Prime Minister Agboyibo presented his resignation to President Gnassingbé on the same day, saying that the elections marked the end of the mission he had been assigned."Agboyibo a présenté sa démission", Republicoftogo.com, November 13, 2007 fr. Michel met with Gnassingbé in Lomé on November 17. Michel said that he thought "the conditions for the complete normalization of cooperation between the European Union and Togo are met" and that an official decision on the matter would be reached before the end of the year."Michel : « Normalisation avant la fin de l’année »", Republicoftogo.com, November 18, 2007 fr. Olympio met with Gnassingbé at the presidential palace in Lomé on November 21 to discuss the appointment of the next prime minister and government."« Mes respects Monsieur le Président » !", Republicoftogo.com, November 21, 2007 fr. In the National Assembly, newly adopted rules of procedure allowed for a parliamentary group to be established with as few as four members, thereby enabling the creation of a CAR parliamentary group."Les députés voteront désormais à main levée", Republicoftogo.com, November 23, 2007 fr. Shortly afterward, on November 24, the National Assembly elected its bureau, composed of seven members,"Abbas Bonfoh élu président de l'Assemblée" https://web.archive.org/web/20071127095121/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=1&s=0&d=3&i=1295 2007-11-27 , Republicoftogo.com, November 27, 2007 fr. all from the RPT."Critiques de l’opposition parlementaire", Republicoftogo.com, November 25, 2007 fr."Le RPT rafle les 7 postes du Bureau de l'Assemblée nationale"April 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes , Panapress (afriquenligne.fr), November 25, 2007 fr. Bonfoh Abbass was re-elected as the President of the National Assembly, while Komi Sélom Klassou was elected as its First Vice-President and Yao Patrice Kanekatoua was elected as its Second Vice-President. The UFC withdrew its candidates for the positions on the bureau after the RPT nominated a candidate for the position of First Vice-President, accusing the RPT of seeking absolute control of the National Assembly, and the CAR followed suit in withdrawing. The UFC and CAR criticized the RPT, saying that under the newly adopted rules of procedure a single parliamentary group should not hold two successive positions in the bureau, such as the Presidency and the First Vice-Presidency, and that the allocation of these positions, along with those of the bureaus of committees in the National Assembly, was supposed to reflect the composition of the National Assembly. The two parties said that it had been agreed that the RPT would hold the Presidency of the National Assembly while the UFC would hold the First Vice-Presidency and the CAR would hold the Second Vice-Presidency. On November 29, it was announced that the EU was resuming full cooperation with Togo."C’est officiel !" https://web.archive.org/web/20071203012506/http://republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=1&s=0&d=3&i=1312 2007-12-03 , Republicoftogo.com, November 29, 2007 fr. On the same day, it was reported that the delay in nominating a new Prime Minister was due to continued attempts to get the UFC to join the government."Togo: la composition du cabinet retarde la nomination du Premier ministre", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), November 29, 2007 fr. It was announced on December 3 that Komlan Mally of the ruling RPT, who was Minister of Town and City Planning in Agboyibo's government and had been elected to the National Assembly, had been nominated as Prime Minister."Komlan Mally à la barre", Republicoftogo.com, December 3, 2007 fr."Togo: Komla Mally nommé Premier ministre" https://archive.today/20120801221521/http://www.afriquenligne.fr/actualites/politique/togo:-komla-mally-nomme-premier-ministre-2007120312652/ 2012-08-01 , Panapress (afriquenligne.fr), December 3, 2007 fr. Following Mally's appointment, UFC Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Fabre said on December 4 that his party was "neither disappointed nor surprised" by the appointment of a Prime Minister from the RPT and that the appointment was in line with past actions by the ruling party which excluded the UFC, including the RPT's monopolization of posts in the bureau of the National Assembly. He also said that in his "personal opinion", the UFC had "no interest in participating in this government"."L’UFC boude le gouvernement togolais", Panapress (afrik.com), December 4, 2007 fr. Olympio described Mally as "some sort of civil servant, unknown to the public, unknown to the political class", and predicted that Mally's government would be short-lived due to the talks between Gnassingbé and the opposition.Jade Heilmann, "Selection of New Togo PM Angers Opposition" https://web.archive.org/web/20071208201102/http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-12-04-voa53.cfm 2007-12-08 , VOA News, December 4, 2007. Olympio also said that the election results did not properly represent the voters' will, pointing out that the UFC received nearly as many votes as the RPT, but that due to the way the electoral system was designed the UFC won far fewer seats. Relative to population density, a disproportionately high number of seats were allotted to the north, where the RPT's support was strongest."Freedom in the World - Togo (2009)" https://web.archive.org/web/20110201073629/http://www.freedomhouse.org/inc/content/pubs/fiw/inc_country_detail.cfm?year=2009&country=7718&pf 2011-02-01 , Freedom House country report. The EU observer mission presented its final report on the elections to Gnassingbé on December 3. While confirming the mission's positive assessment of the elections, the report included a number of recommendations, one of which was that representation in the National Assembly should more closely correspond to population."L’UE remet sa copie finale à Faure" https://web.archive.org/web/20071213212219/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=5&s=1&d=3&i=1336 2007-12-13 , Republicoftogo.com, December 4, 2007 fr. After the National Assembly opened, six deputies from the RPT (including Kanekatoua Yao, who had been elected Second Vice-President of the National Assembly) chose to resign their seats, along with three from the CAR, and were replaced by substitutes."11 députés quittent l’Assemblée" https://web.archive.org/web/20071213212243/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=5&s=1&d=3&i=1355 2007-12-13 , Republicoftogo.com, December 7, 2007 fr. Mally's government, including 21 ministers and primarily composed of members of the RPT, was named on December 13. The UFC and CAR were not included in the government, although Léopold Gnininvi, the leader of the Democratic Convention of the African People, an opposition party that was not elected to the National Assembly, was included as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs."Léopold Gnininvi aux Affaires étrangères" https://web.archive.org/web/20071218124650/http://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=5&s=1&d=3&i=1395 2007-12-18 , Republicoftogo.com, December 13, 2007 fr. References Category:Elections in Togo Togo Parliamentary election Togolese parliamentary election Category:October 2007 elections