Benin's opposition loses all parliamentary seats, provisional results show

"President Patrice Talon's ruling alliance has won full control of Benin's National Assembly in legislative elections, according to provisional results. The electoral commission said on Saturday night that of the five parties running in the January 11 vote, only the Progressive Union for Renewal and the Republican Bloc both aligned with Talon won seats in the assembly. The Progressive Union for Renewal will have 60 MPs while the Republican Bloc will have 49."

"According to a new electoral code, a party must obtain 20 percent of the national vote and 20 percent in each of the 24 electoral districts to be eligible for seat allocation. The main opposition party, The Democrats, won about 16 percent of the vote and failed to reach the threshold. The results strengthen the presidential bloc's hand going into the presidential election in April, in which 67-year-old Talon, who has ruled the country for a decade, is barred from standing again by term limits."

"His handpicked successor, Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is expected to succeed him. The Democrats, meanwhile, are barred from standing in the presidential polls after failing to gather enough signatures to register. The same rule sidelined them from local elections that were held alongside last week's legislative polls. These results confirm the struggle that [The Democrats] party has been waging for about two years, Guy Mitokpe, spokesperson for The Democrats, said, according to The Associated Press news agency."

President Patrice Talon's ruling alliance won full control of Benin's 109-seat National Assembly, with the Progressive Union for Renewal obtaining 60 MPs and the Republican Bloc 49. A new electoral code requires parties to secure 20 percent of the national vote and 20 percent in each of the 24 districts to qualify for seats. The main opposition, The Democrats, received about 16 percent nationally and failed to meet the threshold, and they were also barred from the presidential ballot after failing to gather sufficient signatures. The results consolidate the presidential bloc ahead of April's presidential election and reflect a turnout of roughly 36.7 percent.

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