Benin’s Opposition Crushed: Ruling Alliance Wins

Benin’s Opposition Crushed: Ruling Alliance Sweeps Parliamentary Seats

Benin’s opposition parties have lost all parliamentary seats in the January 11 legislative elections, provisional results show. The electoral commission announced that only two parties aligned with President Patrice Talon, the Progressive Union for Renewal and the Republican Bloc, won seats in the assembly.

According to the electoral commission, the Progressive Union for Renewal secured 60 seats, while the Republican Bloc secured 49 seats. The main opposition party, The Democrats, won around 16% of the vote but failed to reach the 20% threshold required to secure seats.

The Democrats’ spokesperson, Guy Mitokpe, denounced the electoral code as exclusionary and heavily favoring parties aligned with the president. “These results confirm the struggle that (The Democrats) party has been waging for about two years,” Mitokpe said, according to The Associated Press.

The legislative vote took place weeks after a foiled military coup attempt to overthrow President Talon, which lasted a few hours before authorities announced it had been foiled. The country is set to elect a new president in April, and Talon, 67, is barred from running again due to term limits.

Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, a close ally of Talon, is seen as the front-runner to replace him. The voter turnout was 36.73%, according to the electoral commission. The results now have to be confirmed by the Constitutional Court.

The outcome has raised concerns about the fairness and inclusivity of the electoral process, with critics accusing Talon of clamping down on political opposition and human rights.

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Author: Korkor Anumu