Action Committee for Renewal
Encyclopedia
The Action Committee for Renewal is an opposition political party
in Togo
. Dodji Apévon has led the party since 2008; previously it was led by Yawovi Agboyibo
from 1991 to 2008.
The Front of Associations for Renewal, which was led by Agboyibo, was transformed into the CAR in April 1991. In the February 1994 parliamentary election
, the CAR initially won 36 seats, more than any other party, including the ruling Rally of the Togolese People
(RPT), which won 35 seats. The CAR and its ally, the Togolese Union for Democracy (UTD), proposed Agboyibo as Prime Minister. However, results in three constituencies were subsequently invalidated, depriving the CAR of two seats and the UTD of one, and the two parties decided to boycott the National Assembly
as a result. After UTD leader Edem Kodjo
was named Prime Minister, the CAR chose not to participate in his government, saying that the UTD had violated the two parties' agreement; however, after the partial elections for the invalidated seats were delayed, the CAR decided to end its boycott of the National Assembly. It announced another boycott on November 7, 1994 over the issue of the partial elections, but eventually ended it again on August 22, 1995, after an agreement was reached with the government on the creation of an independent electoral commission. One deputy left the CAR in April 1996, and another in October 1996, reducing its number of seats to 32. The party boycotted a National Assembly vote concerning the Constitutional Court in December 1996, and another vote in September 1997 concerning the adoption of an electoral code; in the latter case, it did so to protest the withholding by the government of a report by a European Union
mission about Togo's election process.
The CAR boycotted the March 1999 parliamentary election
and the October 2002 parliamentary election
. Agboyibo was the party's candidate in the June 2003 presidential election
, taking third place with 5.1% of the vote. The CAR supported Emmanuel Bob-Akitani
of the Union of Forces for Change
in the presidential election
of 24 April 2005, in which he won 38.1 % of the vote.
Agboyibo was appointed as Prime Minister of Togo in September 2006 at the head of a national unity government in preparation for a parliamentary election
. In this election, which was held in October 2007, the party won four out of 81 seats; it won all three seats in Yoto Prefecture
along with one seat in Vo Prefecture
.
The CAR held an ordinary congress in October 2008, and at the congress Agboyibo chose to step down as the President of CAR; he was replaced by Dodji Apévon.
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...
. Dodji Apévon has led the party since 2008; previously it was led by Yawovi Agboyibo
Yawovi Agboyibo
Yawovi Madji Agboyibo is a Togolese politician. He served as Prime Minister of Togo from September 2006 to December 2007 and was National President of the Action Committee for Renewal , an opposition political party, from 1991 to 2008...
from 1991 to 2008.
The Front of Associations for Renewal, which was led by Agboyibo, was transformed into the CAR in April 1991. In the February 1994 parliamentary election
Togolese parliamentary election, 1994
Parliamentary elections were held in Togo on 6 February 1994, with a second round on 18 March in 24 constituencies. The first multi-party elections since they 1960s, they saw the ruling Rally of the Togolese People finish second behind the Action Committee for Renewal , who together with their...
, the CAR initially won 36 seats, more than any other party, including the ruling Rally of the Togolese People
Rally of the Togolese People
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....
(RPT), which won 35 seats. The CAR and its ally, the Togolese Union for Democracy (UTD), proposed Agboyibo as Prime Minister. However, results in three constituencies were subsequently invalidated, depriving the CAR of two seats and the UTD of one, and the two parties decided to boycott the National Assembly
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...
as a result. After UTD leader 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...
was named Prime Minister, the CAR chose not to participate in his government, saying that the UTD had violated the two parties' agreement; however, after the partial elections for the invalidated seats were delayed, the CAR decided to end its boycott of the National Assembly. It announced another boycott on November 7, 1994 over the issue of the partial elections, but eventually ended it again on August 22, 1995, after an agreement was reached with the government on the creation of an independent electoral commission. One deputy left the CAR in April 1996, and another in October 1996, reducing its number of seats to 32. The party boycotted a National Assembly vote concerning the Constitutional Court in December 1996, and another vote in September 1997 concerning the adoption of an electoral code; in the latter case, it did so to protest the withholding by the government of a report by a European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
mission about Togo's election process.
The CAR boycotted the March 1999 parliamentary election
Togolese parliamentary election, 1999
Parliamentary elections were held in Togo on 21 March 1999. They were boycotted by the eight opposition parties, who been rebuffed in their insistence that talks following the controversial presidential election the previous year must be completed prior to the parliamentary election...
and the October 2002 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...
. Agboyibo was the party's candidate in the June 2003 presidential election
Togolese presidential election, 2003
Presidential elections were held in Togo on 1 June 2003. The result was a victory for incumbent President Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who won 57.8% of the vote.-Results:* Gnininvi withdrew his candidacy in May but remained on the ballot paper....
, taking third place with 5.1% of the vote. The CAR supported Emmanuel Bob-Akitani
Emmanuel Bob-Akitani
Emmanuel Bob-Akitani is a Togolese politician who was the main opposition candidate in the 2003 and 2005 Togolese presidential elections. He is the Honorary President of the Union of Forces for Change ....
of the Union of Forces for Change
Union of Forces for Change
The Union of Forces for Change is the main opposition political party in Togo. The President of the UFC was Gilchrist Olympio and its Secretary-General is Jean-Pierre Fabre until August 10th 2010. Olympio is the son of the first President of Togo, Sylvanus Olympio, who was assassinated in a 1963...
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 38.1 % of the vote.
Agboyibo was appointed as Prime Minister of Togo in September 2006 at the head of a national unity government in preparation for a 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...
. In this election, which was held in October 2007, the party won four out of 81 seats; it won all three seats in Yoto Prefecture
Yoto
Yoto is a prefecture located in the Maritime Region of Togo. The prefecture seat is located in Tabligbo....
along with one seat in Vo Prefecture
Vo, Togo
Vo is a prefecture located in the Maritime Region of Togo. The prefecture seat is located in Vogan....
.
The CAR held an ordinary congress in October 2008, and at the congress Agboyibo chose to step down as the President of CAR; he was replaced by Dodji Apévon.