Opposition in Benin Loses All Parliamentary Seats in Provisional Results

Benin’s National Assembly Election Results Announced

Provisional results from Benin’s legislative elections have confirmed that the Progressive Union for Renewal and the Republican Bloc, both affiliated with President Patrice Talon, have secured all 109 seats in the assembly. According to the electoral commission, these two parties are the only ones to have met the threshold requirements set by the new electoral code.

The Progressive Union for Renewal will hold 60 seats, while the Republican Bloc will have 49. In contrast, The Democrats, the main opposition party, garnered approximately 16 percent of the national vote but failed to reach the required 20 percent in both the national and district-level votes.

The results are significant as they strengthen President Talon’s alliance ahead of the upcoming presidential election in April. As term limits bar him from running again, his chosen successor, Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is expected to take office. The Democrats’ inability to participate in the presidential polls due to failing to gather sufficient signatures has also been noted.

Turnout for last weekend’s elections was 36.7 percent, which is roughly comparable to the 37 percent seen in the previous legislative polls in 2023. The legislative vote took place weeks after a military coup attempt on December 7, which was ultimately foiled by authorities.

Source: Al Jazeera