US EditionBenin’s parliament approves extending presidential terms and creating a senate
The amendment passed 90-19 extends terms to seven years and introduces a Senate with 25–30 members including former leaders and presidential appointees.
- On Saturday, Benin's National Assembly in Cotonou approved an amendment extending presidential and legislative terms from five to seven years by a 90-19 vote.
- Officials framed the change as designed to regulate political life to safeguard and strengthen national unity, democracy and peace, drawing on former presidents, presidents of the National Assembly, presidents of Constitutional Courts, and military chiefs of staff.
- The reform creates a Senate expected to have between 25 and 30 members with authority to request a second reading of National Assembly laws, except finance laws.
- The reforms still require approval by the Constitutional Court and would come into effect next year, while The Democrats, Benin's main opposition party, alleged irregularities in the Saturday vote and denounced the Senate's creation.
- Because Talon nears the end of his second term, President Patrice Talon has just seven months left and will leave office after 10 years, with the two-term presidential limit unchanged.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Benin adopts constitutional amendment to create Senate, extend presidential term
Benin's National Assembly has adopted a constitutional amendment extending presidential and legislative terms from five years to seven. It also creates a Senate, made up of between 25 to 30 members.
Six months before the presidential elections of April 2026, the National Assembly has just adopted a constitutional revision which provides for the creation of a Senate, as well as the change from five to seven years of elected office, including that of President of the Republic.
The National Assembly of Benin adopted, on Saturday 15 November at dawn, a constitutional revision by a qualified majority of four-fifths required with 90 votes in favour and 19 against. This reform introduces two major changes in the institutional architecture of the country. On the one hand, the creation of a Senate, on the other hand, extends the duration of presidential and legislative mandates, from five to seven years from the next electio…
Benin extends presidential term to seven years ahead of 2026 elections
The National Assembly of Bénin (National Assembly Benin) has approved a constitutional amendment extending the presidential term of office from five years to seven and creating an upper house of parliament. In an overwhelming 90-19 vote, the new amendment sets the presidential term at seven years, renewable only once, according to a statement issued on […] The post Benin extends presidential term to seven years ahead of 2026 elections first appe…
Benin: Parliament Approves Extension Of Presidential Term From 5 To 7 Years
By Enyichukwu Enemanna Lawmakers in Benin on Saturday approved a constitutional amendment permitting the extension of the presidential term of office from five to seven years. This is in addition to the creation of an upper legislative chamber, the Senate. The West African nation however retained the presidential term limit of two tenure. Current head of state Patrice Talon is expected to take a bow next April after a decade in power. His prefer…
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