Rally of the Togolese People
Encyclopedia
The Rally of the Togolese People is the ruling political party
in Togo
. The President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé
, is also the National President of the RPT.
The RPT was founded in late 1969, under President Gnassingbé Eyadéma
. The party's first Secretary-General was Edem Kodjo
. It was the only legally permitted party in the country, a role further entrenched in a new constitution adopted in 1979. Under its provisions, the president of the party was elected to a seven-year term as president of the republic, and confirmed in office by a plebiscite.
After 22 years of single-party rule by the RPT, a National Conference was held in July–August 1991, establishing a transitional government leading to multiparty elections. The RPT was legally dissolved by the National Conference on 27 August 1991. After the party was banned in November 1991 by the High Council of the Republic (the transitional parliament), a political crisis occurred in which soldiers loyal to Eyadéma, who demanded that the ban on the RPT be lifted, captured Prime Minister Joseph Kokou Koffigoh
in December.
In the parliamentary election
held on 27 October 2002, the party won 72 out of 81 seats in the National Assembly of Togo
. Following the death of Eyadéma in February 2005, the RPT designated his son, Faure Gnassingbé, as the party's leader and its candidate in the presidential election
of 24 April 2005, in which he won 60.2 % of the vote.
The RPT's 9th Congress was held in December 2006, and Solitoki Esso was elected as the party's Secretary-General for a three-year term. Previous Secretaries-General include Koffi Sama
, elected in late 2000, and Dama Dramani
, elected in late 2003.
The RPT won 50 out of 81 National Assembly seats in the October 2007 parliamentary election
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
. The President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé
Faure Gnassingbé
Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé has been the President of Togo since May 4, 2005. A son of President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, he was appointed to the government by his father, serving as Minister of Equipment, Mines, Posts, and Telecommunications from 2003 to 2005...
, is also the National President of the RPT.
The RPT was founded in late 1969, under President Gnassingbé Eyadéma
Gnassingbé Eyadéma
General Gnassingbé Eyadéma , was the President of Togo from 1967 until his death in 2005. He participated in two successful military coups, in January 1963 and January 1967, and became President on April 14, 1967...
. The party's first Secretary-General was Edem Kodjo
Edem Kodjo
Édouard Kodjovi Kodjo, better known as Edem Kodjo , is a Togolese politician and diplomat. He was Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity from 1978 to 1983; later, in Togo, he was a prominent opposition leader after the introduction of multiparty politics. He served as Prime...
. It was the only legally permitted party in the country, a role further entrenched in a new constitution adopted in 1979. Under its provisions, the president of the party was elected to a seven-year term as president of the republic, and confirmed in office by a plebiscite.
After 22 years of single-party rule by the RPT, a National Conference was held in July–August 1991, establishing a transitional government leading to multiparty elections. The RPT was legally dissolved by the National Conference on 27 August 1991. After the party was banned in November 1991 by the High Council of the Republic (the transitional parliament), a political crisis occurred in which soldiers loyal to Eyadéma, who demanded that the ban on the RPT be lifted, captured Prime Minister Joseph Kokou Koffigoh
Joseph Kokou Koffigoh
Joseph Kokou Koffigoh is a Togolese politician who served as Prime Minister of Togo from 27 August 1991 to 25 April 1994. Elected as Prime Minister by the opposition-dominated National Conference in 1991, Koffigoh was given full executive powers and tasked with overseeing a transition to...
in December.
In the parliamentary election
Togolese parliamentary election, 2002
Parliamentary elections were held in Togo on 27 October 2002. Like the previous elections in 1999, they were boycotted by nine opposition parties , following the replacement of the Independent National Electoral Commission by a seven-magistrate committee and a revision of the Electoral Code...
held on 27 October 2002, the party won 72 out of 81 seats in the National Assembly of Togo
National Assembly of Togo
The unicameral National Assembly of Togo is the country's legislative body. It has a total of 81 members who are elected in a party list proportional representation system...
. Following the death of Eyadéma in February 2005, the RPT designated his son, Faure Gnassingbé, as the party's leader and its candidate in the presidential election
Togolese presidential election, 2005
A presidential election was held in Togo on April 24, 2005, following the death in office of long-time president Gnassingbé Eyadéma. The main candidates were Eyadéma's son, Faure Gnassingbé, and opposition leader Emmanuel Bob-Akitani. The election and the period preceding it were marked by...
of 24 April 2005, in which he won 60.2 % of the vote.
The RPT's 9th Congress was held in December 2006, and Solitoki Esso was elected as the party's Secretary-General for a three-year term. Previous Secretaries-General include Koffi Sama
Koffi Sama
Koffi Sama was the Prime Minister of Togo from 29 June 2002 until 9 June 2005.-Biography:Sama was born in Amoutchou in Ogou Prefecture...
, elected in late 2000, and Dama Dramani
Dama Dramani
Dama Dramani is a Togolese politician. He was Secretary-General of the Rally of the Togolese People from 2003 to 2006 and is currently the President of the RPT Parliamentary Group in the National Assembly....
, elected in late 2003.
The RPT won 50 out of 81 National Assembly seats in the October 2007 parliamentary election
Togolese parliamentary election, 2007
A parliamentary election was held in Togo on October 14, 2007 for the 81 seats in the National Assembly. There were over 2,000 candidates, with 32 parties and 41 lists of independent candidates competing. The ruling Rally of the Togolese People was victorious, winning a majority of 50 seats...
.