EU welcomes independent electoral commission

The European Union (EU) on Wednesday welcomed the setting up of an independent electoral commission in Togo and called on its members and their parties “to do their utmost to ensure that this commission can begin its work”. The call, made in a communique on 12 July, follows disagreement between members of the Conseil electoral national independant (CENI) over who should be its chairman and how it would work. The communique recalled that the establishment of the CENI made it possible to plan the date of general elections in Togo and urged Togo’s parties “to reach an understanding enabling them swiftly to make the arrangements still needed for these elections to be held...” Presidential elections held in Togo in mid-1998 were deemed unfair by the opposition, which refused to take part in subsequent polls. However, discussions in a paritary committee made up of ruling party and opposition representatives led to an agreement that included the formation of the CENI, sworn in on 30 June. The EU also reiterated an offer to provide financial support for the electoral process provided that Togo’s parties accept EU assistance in identifying the necessary accompanying measures, the communique said.