imported>Richie1509 at 12:40, 1 July 2025

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{{Short description|President of Togo since 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Update|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[Excellency|His Excellency]]
| name = Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové
| image =
| caption =
| order1 = 5th
| office1 = President of Togo
| primeminister1 = [[Faure Gnassingbé]]
| term_start1 = 3 May 2025
| predecessor1 = Faure Gnassingbé
| office2 = Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts
| primeminister2 = [[Edem Kodjo]] [[Yawovi Agboyibo]]
| term_start2 = 20 June 2005
| term_end2 = 6 December 2007
| predecessor2 = [[Tankpadja Lalle]]
| successor2 = [[Yandja Yentchabré]]
| birth_name = Jean-Lucien Kwassi Lanyo Savi de Tové
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1939|5|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Lomé]], [[French Togoland]]
| party = [[Pan-African Patriotic Convergence|CPP]] (since 1999)
| otherparty = [[Party of Dmeocrats of Unity (Togo)|PDU]] (1991–1999) [[Independent politician|Independent]] (before 1969; 1986–1991; 1994) [[Rally of the Togolese People|RPT]] (1969–1986)
| education = [[Institut d'études politiques de Bordeaux]] [[Sorbonne University]] [[University of Naples Federico II]]
}}

'''Jean-Lucien Kwassi Lanyo Savi de Tové''' (born 7 May 1939) is a Togolese politician who has served as the fifth [[president of Togo]] since 2025.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|access-date=2025-03-05 |date=2025-03-05 |title=Togo : Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové, l'opposant historique, élu président dans un geste d'ouverture inédit |url=https://lejournalinfo.com/politique/savi-de-tove-president-togo/ |website=lejournalinfo.com}}</ref> He was previously the Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts in the governments of [[Edem Kodjo]] and [[Yawovi Agboyibo]] from 2005 to 2007.

A former opposition leader, Savi de Tové was imprisoned several times during the presidency of [[Gnassingbé Eyadéma]] before joining the government. In the [[2007 Togolese parliamentary election|2007 parliamentary election]], he was a candidate for the [[National Assembly (Togo)|National Assembly]], but then lost. In December of that year, he was dismissed from the government.

In May 2025, Savi de Tové was unanimously elected the president by the [[National Assembly (Togo)|National Assembly]] following a 2024 constitutional reform which changed the way the president is elected from [[Direct election|direct popular vote]] to being indirectly elected by the National Assembly.

Savi de Tové took office succeeding [[Faure Gnassingbé]], the son of Eyadéma, becoming the first officeholder of the now ceremonial role as most of the powers of the presidency that existed before were transferred to a new office called the [[President of the Council of Ministers of Togo|president of the Council of Ministers]] due to the reform. The role was subsequently taken by Faure Gnassingbé, who retained most of his executive power. Aged nearly 86 when taking office, Savi de Tové is the oldest person to become president.

== Early life and education ==
Savi de Tové was born in Lomé to an [[Ewe people|Ewe]] family.<ref name="Zio">{{cite web |url=http://www.cenitogo.tg/listecandidats/ZIO.pdf |title=Circonscription électorale de Zio |website=cenitogo.tg }}</ref><ref name="Etiame">{{cite web |url=http://www.etiame.com/etiame296.htm |title=Profil des membres du gouvernement togolais |website=etiame.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.africaintelligence.fr/C/modules/login/detailart/LoginDetailArt.asp?lang=fra&service=art&comment=&context=arc&doc_i_id=21063 |title=Que le "meilleur" gagne |website=Africa Intelligence |access-date=May 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060309021130/http://www.africaintelligence.fr |archive-date=2006-03-09}}</ref> He graduated in law from the [[University of Bordeaux]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=Bourses |journal=Journal officiel de la République togolaise |issue=134 |date=16 October 1960 |page=692}}</ref>

== Political career ==
After the [[1967 Togolese coup d'état]], Savi de Tové was appointed Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 6 February 1967.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Journal officiel de la République togolaise |page=93 |date=1 March 1967}}</ref> He was later replaced in 1974 by Kouanvi Tigoue (interim),<ref>{{cite journal |title=Journal officiel de la République togolaise |page=62 |date=1 February 1975}}</ref> and permanently in 1975 by Kodjo de Medeiros.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Journal officiel de la République togolaise |page=227 |date=16 May 1975}}</ref> Accused of plotting a coup alongside other political figures, including [[Gilchrist Olympio]], an arrest warrant was issued on 12 July 1979, and Savi de Tové was imprisoned.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Journal officiel de la République togolaise |page=525 |date=16 October 1979}}</ref> He was convicted in August 1979 along with four others and sentenced to ten years in prison.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Amnesty International Report |page=106 |year=1984 |publisher=Amnesty International Publications |isbn=978-0-86210-071-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=42HkAAAAMAAJ&q=%22commuted+to+life+imprisonment.+Kwassi%22}}</ref>

After the legalization of multiparty politics, Savi de Tové founded the Party of Democrats for Unity (PDU).<ref>{{cite book |title=Afrique et développement |page=145 |year=2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=L'Afrique politique 1997: Revendications populaires et recompositions politiques |publisher=Karthala |page=267 |year=1997}}</ref> In March 1993, the opposition coalition proposed him as Prime Minister during a meeting in [[Cotonou]], Benin, criticizing PM [[Joseph Kokou Koffigoh]]'s cooperation with President Eyadéma.<ref>{{cite news |title=Togo: l'opposition propose M. Savi de Tové comme premier ministre |work=Le Monde |date=24 March 1993 |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1993/03/24/togo-l-opposition-propose-m-savi-de-tove-comme-premier-ministre_3923151_1819218.html}}</ref><ref name="High">{{cite web |url=http://70.84.171.10/~etools/newsbrief/1993/news9303.23 |title=Africa New Highlights |publisher=Reuters |access-date=May 6, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Report">{{cite book |title=Africa Report |volume=38 |page=9 |year=1993 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7wJvAAAAMAAJ&q=savi+de+tove}}</ref> However, the official government rejected this nomination.<ref name="West">{{cite book |title=West Africa, Issues 4180-4193 |page=499}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Africa Contemporary Record |volume=24 |page=188 |year=2000}}</ref> In 1994, Savi de Tové ran as an [[Independent politician|independent]] in the [[1994 Togolese parliamentary election|parliamentary elections]] but was not elected.<ref>{{cite web |author=Godwin Tété |title=L'élection présidentielle de 2015 au Togo - Clarifions et simplifions la problématique |url=https://cvu-togo-diaspora.org/2015/02/14/lelection-presidentielle-de-2015-au-togo-clarifions-et-simplifions-la-problematique/10624 |website=cvu-togo-diaspora.org |date=14 February 2015}}</ref> In 1999, the PDU merged with other parties including the UTD and UTS to create the Pan-African Patriotic Convergence (CPP), led by [[Edem Kodjo]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Political Parties of the World |editor=Bogdan Szajkowski |edition=6th |page=591 |year=2005}}</ref> Savi de Tové was appointed as first vice-president of the CPP.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://icilome.com/nouvelles/news.asp?id=1&idnews=6961&f= |title=Togo/dialogue: les divergences refont surface avec la reprise des travaux |date=2 June 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mme Gaba en détention arbitraire et illégale de 48 heures au camp du régiment para-commando de Kara, sur ordre du Lieutenant-colonel Ernest Gnassingbé |url=http://www.togo-confidentiel.com/texte/DroitsHumains&Libert%E9s/Gaba_au_Camp_Landja.htm}}</ref>

In June 2005, Savi de Tové was appointed Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.french.xinhuanet.com/french/2005-06/21/content_130208.htm |title=Togo: Liste des membres du nouveau gouvernement |date=21 June 2005 }}</ref> He remained in the same position in [[Yawovi Agboyibo]]’s government.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.afrik.com/repartition-des-portefeuilles-du-nouveau-gouvernement-togolais |title=Répartition des portefeuilles du nouveau gouvernement togolais |date=21 September 2006}}</ref> Savi de Tové signed the resulting political agreement from the 2006 inter-Togolese dialogue on behalf of the CPP.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cenitogo.tg/telechargement/apg.pdf |title=Texte de l'accord politique global |access-date=May 6, 2025}}</ref> During the [[2007 Togolese parliamentary election|2007 parliamentary election]], he led the CPP list in Zio Prefecture but the party failed to win any seats.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cenitogo.tg/resultats/Resultats_definitifs_des_elections_legislatives_du_14_octobre_2007_%20proclames_par_la_Cour_Constitutionnelle.do.pdf |title=Text of Constitutional Court decision (final election results) |language=en |date=30 October 2007}}</ref> He was dismissed from the government in December 2007. On 27 May 2009, Savi de Tové was appointed president of the [[Permanent Framework for Dialogue and Consultation]] (CPDC).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.republicoftogo.com/central.php?o=6&s=3824&d=3&i=3822 |title=Jean-Lucien Sanvi De Tové confiant et serein |date=29 May 2009}}</ref>

== Presidency (2025–present) ==
In May 2024, Togo officially adopted a new [[Constitution of Togo|constitution]], which turned the country from a [[presidential republic]] into a [[Parliamentary republic|parliamentary one]] by stripping off most of the presidential powers and transferring them to the prime minister and where the role was rename the [[President of the Council of Ministers of Togo|president of the Council of Ministers]]. The president thus became a ceremornial role, and was also no longer [[Direct election|directly elected]] by the Togolese people but [[Indirect election|indirectly elected]] by the [[National Assembly (Togo)|National Assembly]]. The presidential terms was also lowered from five years to four, renewable once.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/togo-has-adopted-major-constitutional-changes-to-give-parliament-more-power-how-it-will-work-228944|title=Togo has adopted major constitutional changes to give parliament more power: how it will work|work=The Conversation|date=1 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://africacenter.org/spotlight/togo-revises-constitution-to-eliminate-term-limits-an-explainer/|title=Togo Revises Constitution to Eliminate Term Limits: An Explainer|work=Africa Center|date=23 April 2024}}</ref>

The changes came into effect in May 2025, where Savi de Tové was unanimously [[2025 Togolese presidential election|elected]] president by the [[National Assembly (Togo)|National Assembly]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.togofirst.com/en/politics/0605-16273-togo-elects-former-opposition-leader-jean-lucien-savi-de-tove-as-president|title=Togo Elects Former Opposition Leader Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové as President|work=Togo First|date=6 May 2025}}</ref> He was immediately sworn in, becoming the first president of the Fifth Repiblic, succeeding [[Faure Gnassingbé]] who took on the role of president of the Council of Ministers and thus, retains most of the executive powers of the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.myjoyonline.com/faure-gnassingbe-becomes-first-chairman-of-council-of-minister-of-togo-after-shift-to-parliamentary-system/|title=Faure Gnassingbé becomes first Chairman of Council of Ministers of Togo after shift to parliamentary system|work=MyJoyOnline|date=3 May 2025}}</ref> Taking office just four days before his 86th birthday, Savi de Tové is the oldest president ever in Togolese history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.ug/togo-elects-new-president/|title=Togo elects new president|work=The Independent Uganda|date=4 May 2025}}</ref> He was congratulated by Chinese president [[Xi Jinping]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-05-15/President-Xi-congratulates-president-of-Togo-on-assuming-office-1DoDUFg0kLK/p.html|title=President Xi congratulates president of Togo on assuming office|work=CGTN|date=15 May 2025}}</ref>

== Honours ==
* [[Order of Mono]] – Commander (2006)<ref>{{cite journal |title=Journal officiel de la République togolaise |page=4 |date=26 December 2006 |url=http://jo.gouv.tg/sites/default/files/annee/2006/jo%202006-040.pdf}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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{{s-bef|before=[[Faure Gnassingbé]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of heads of state of Togo|President of Togo]]|years=2025–present}}
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{{TogolesePresidents}}
{{Heads of state of republics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Savi de Tové, Jean-Lucien}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Lomé]]
[[Category:Ewe people]]
[[Category:Togolese politicians]]
[[Category:Presidents of Togo]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Togo]]
[[Category:Togolese prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:Pan-African Patriotic Convergence politicians]]

Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové - Revision history

imported>Richie1509 at 12:40, 1 July 2025