Togo’s Minister Defends Controversial Constitution Rewrite

A Togolese government official says the April 29 legislative and regional elections present an opportunity for the Togolese people to deliver a verdict on the new constitutional reform approved recently by parliament. The new constitution gives the election of the president to parliament. The government last week arrested some members of the opposition who had planned to protest the changes because they say it infringes on the rights of all citizens to choose their president. Campaigning for the April 29 vote began over the weekend. Gilbert Bawara, Togolese minister for civil service, labor and social dialogue, tells VOA’s James Butty, the constitution revision is necessary, especially given what he calls the chaos taking place in the West Africa sub-region.