Constitutional amendment allows president to seek reelection

A constitutional amendment approved by Togo's parliament enables the country's president to seek reelection as often as he wishes. Article 59 of Togo's constitution stated that the five-year presidential term was renewable "only once" and that presidents should not have more than two terms. The amended article simply states that a president is elected for five years and "can be reelected", according to information posted on Tuesday on the official Republic of Togo website. The amendment was approved on Monday by parliament, in which the ruling Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais (RPT) has 72 out of 81 seats. It paves the way for President Gnassingbe Eyadema (67) to seek reelection at presidential polls to be held in June 2003. According to the BBC, opposition groups described the move as a constitutional coup. Eyadema has ruled Togo since 1967 when he came to power in a military coup. In 1993, he won the country's first presidential poll since the end of single-party rule but the election was boycotted by opposition parties. The second multiparty presidential election, which Eyadema won in 1998, was deemed flawed by most observers.