Benin: Ex-Benin President Talon Makes Political Comeback Via Newly Founded Senate

What the report says

Benin’s newly created Senate has elected former president Patrice Talon as its first leader, marking an unexpected return to public office less than three months after he left the presidency. The vote took place on Thursday in Porto-Novo, and Talon will serve a five-year term heading the country’s new upper chamber of parliament, according to the report distributed by AllAfrica from Radio France Internationale.

Talon was the only candidate for the post and won 24 of 25 votes in a secret ballot held behind closed doors. The article says the result was presented as a show of unity, with no votes cast against him. Charles Toko, who presided over the session, announced Talon as president of the Senate. Talon said after the vote that he would do his best and called for teamwork, national unity, peace and democracy.

The report notes that Talon had previously revised the constitution last year, a change that critics believed could give him a political role after leaving the presidency on 24 May. His opponents have also questioned the purpose of the new body, saying it may provide a landing place for him after office. Under the law described in the article, the Senate will meet four times a year and can help regulate political life, including the ability to suspend or remove civic or political rights from some elected officials. Former National Assembly president Louis Vlavonou was chosen as vice-president, with Alassane Séïdou and Adidjath Mathys taking other leadership roles.