At a time when some countries are amending their constitutions to allow incumbents to remain in power, Benin has taken a different path. President Patrice Talon is stepping down after two terms in office since 2016. Yet, despite his adherence to term limits, the upcoming election appears less competitive. Can a transition process be considered democratic if the conditions for meaningful competition are weakened?
Recent electoral reforms and restrictions on opposition participation have narrowed the political space, effectively limiting meaningful competition.
Political Context
Benin transitioned from decades of military rule to multiparty democracy in 1990. Since then, there have been four democratic transfers of power. However, despite its relative stability, Benin’s political climate has become increasingly restrictive since 2016. According to Freedom House, President Patrice Talon began consolidating power after coming into office in 2016.
The 2019 parliamentary elections were widely criticized as uncompetitive after opposition parties were excluded from the process. Talon’s electoral reforms made it more difficult for opposition parties to participate by increasing the vote threshold for parliamentary representation from 10% to 20% and raising the sponsorship requirement for presidential candidates from 10% to 15% of elected officials, limiting the ability of smaller and opposition parties to gain political representation.
The 2021 presidential election was disputed due to intimidation and the exclusion of key candidates, exemplified by the arrest and imprisonment of Reckya Madougou on terrorism charges.
In December 2025, a coup attempt by a group of soldiers was foiled by the Beninois army with help from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The failure of the coup amid citizens’ displeasure with the actions of Talon’s administration shows the continuous support for the democratic process over the use of violence. Tensions remain high as the country approaches the April 2026 elections, with the main opposition party barred from participating under the 2024 electoral amendment. These developments raise serious questions about the election’s credibility, as the vote will be held under uncompetitive conditions.
Electoral Rules
Benin’s presidential election is scheduled for April 12 and operates under a two-round system. Should no candidate receive more than 50% in the initial round, a runoff will determine the winner.
Presidential Criteria and Eligibility
To run for president, candidates must be Beninese, either by birth or by naturalization, for at least ten years. They need to have good character, enjoy full civil and political rights, be between forty and seventy years old, and pass a health and mental check by three doctors appointed by the Constitutional Court. Candidates also need sponsorship from at least 15% of representatives and mayors nationwide.
Candidates
This year, Talon’s hand-picked successor, Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, is seen as the clear favorite to succeed him as head of state. Paul Hounkpè, from the opposition party, Forces Cauris pour un Bénin émergent (FCBE), met the requirements to run and was confirmed by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission of Benin (CENA).
The presence of only one government-aligned candidate alongside a single minor opposition contender underscores the narrow, controlled nature of the race, signaling limited electoral openness.
Electoral Reforms
In March 2024, President Talon promulgated amendments to Benin’s electoral law. These changes updated the rules for parliamentary and presidential elections. The reforms raised the vote threshold for parties to gain representation in the National Assembly from 10% to 20% and increased the sponsorship requirement for presidential candidates from 10% to 15% of elected representatives and mayors. In practice, because most elected officials support the ruling party, opposition candidates struggle to secure enough sponsors to qualify.
This contributed to the main opposition party’s inability to gain parliamentary seats in January, limiting its participation in the 2026 elections.
Ruling Party Dominance and the Narrowing of Political Competition
In the January 2026 parliamentary elections, two parties in President Patrice Talon’s ruling alliance, the Progressive Union for Renewal and the Republican Bloc (BR), won 109 seats in the National Assembly. The main opposition party, Les Démocrates, failed to meet the threshold requirements for representation under the electoral law.
According to Article 146 of the 2019 Electoral Code, as amended in March 2024, only party lists that obtain at least 20% of valid votes in each electoral district are eligible for seat allocation, unless they meet the alternative 10% nationwide threshold under a prior coalition agreement. Les Démocrates did not enter into that agreement; it secured about sixteen percent of the national vote. However, it did not reach the twenty percent threshold required in regional districts for seat allocation.
Barred Opposition and Election Risks
The country’s main opposition party, Les Démocrates, has rejected the new electoral code, describing it as a mechanism that allows the ruling regime to shape electoral outcomes. Their presidential candidate, Renaud Agbodjo, was barred from contesting after failing to secure the required parliamentary sponsorship. Following this disqualification, the party chose not to endorse any alternative candidate, effectively opting out of the election.
This sequence of events has led to limited opposition participation in the upcoming presidential vote. As a result, voter enthusiasm may decline, particularly among opposition supporters, leading to low turnout and reduced public engagement. In turn, this will reduce the race’s overall competitiveness, raising concerns about the quality of the electoral process and may weaken the perceived legitimacy of the election outcome.
With the presidential election scheduled for Sunday, April 12, 2026, Benin faces a critical challenge for its democracy, as leadership transitions will occur without a genuine political choice. Given that the main opposition is barred and competition narrowly constrained, the vote risks producing a president whose legitimacy and mandate may be questioned. The broader takeaway is that Benin’s democratic credibility now depends not only on orderly succession but also on whether citizens can exercise meaningful choice in shaping their leadership.
Magdalene Naa Momo Mensah is an Intern of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana).
