Faure Gnassingbé

Faure Gnassingbé Essozimna ( born June 6, 1966 in Afagnan ) is a politician from the Republic of Togo and the incumbent President. He is the second- largest ethnic group in the country, the Kabiye on.

Gnassingbé was from 5 to 25 February 2005 President of the country, but had to resign to massive international pressure. On 26 April 2005, he won according to the official election results, the new presidential election with over 60 % of the vote. The opposition accuses him while facing massive electoral fraud. The election result was, however, confirmed in early May by the Supreme Court and Togo Gnassingbé was officially sworn in on 4 May 2005 as president.

Life

He is the son of longtime President Gnassingbe Eyadema and the only one of about 50 children who went into politics. Gnassingbé was as a representative of the constituency Sokodé deputy in the National Assembly of Togo.

Gnassingbé attended high schools in Lome. After studying at the Dauphine in Paris (Business Management), he studied in the United States at Washington University and completed his training with a Master of Business Administration. Thereafter, he served under his father in various functions of state administration.

His political breakthrough was achieved Gnassingbé with two election victories in the constituency Blitta occasion of the parliamentary elections of 1999 and 2002; latter were boycotted by the opposition.

June 29, 2003, he was in the cabinet of Koffi Sama minister for public utilities, mining, post and telecommunications.

Takeover in February 2005

After the death of his father Gnassingbe Eyadema on 5 February 2005, he was proclaimed on the same day as his successor. Given the poor health of his father, the early handover of power to Gnassingbé had been expected for some time. In December 2002, Gnassingbé Eyadema decreed an extension of the Constitution of the country, with the minimum age for the office of President has been reduced from 45 years to 35 years.

Under the Togolese Constitution, the provisional leadership of the official duties of the President of the National Assembly Fambaré Ouattara Rassemblement du peuple from the ruling togolais (RPT ) had accrued. Within the next 60 days elections should have been held. Since this was staying at the time of the death of Gnassingbé Eyadema in France and could not return in time, because the army had the borders closed, took the Togolese army the power vacuum and entrusted Faure Gnassingbé with the Office of the President, to ensure the stability of the country.

The African Union and the European Union were protesting now against the illegal takeover and saw it as evidence of a military coup. France called for respect for the Constitution. At least it turned Gnassingbés presidential nomination represents a breach of the constitution, the opposition spoke of a coup.

End of February 2005 Faure Gnassingbé stepped back to the ongoing international pressure. The UN welcomed the move. On April 24, 2005 presidential elections took place, won Faure Gnassingbé. He was sworn in again as president. The opposition accuses the elections from massive election fraud.

On March 4, 2010, held for the first time after the change of power in 2005 presidential elections in Togo. According to the preliminary election results announced on March 6, 2010, the son and successor of President Eyadema Gnassingbe many years, Faure Gnassingbé Essozimna, was re-elected with 60.92 % of the valid votes. The candidate of the main opposition party UFC, Jean -Pierre Fabre, was subject to a surprising degree with 33.94 % of the valid votes. He has announced to contest the election results.

The remaining five candidates came together to 5.17 % of the valid votes.