Left out: Reforms have left the opposition sidelined in Benin's presidential elections
The presidential elections in Benin, scheduled for April 12, are taking place amidst political tensions and a growing terrorist threat in the north of the country. Two leading contenders have emerged: Romuald Wadagny, the current finance minister, and journalist Paul Hounkpe, representing the moderate opposition.
On the program "Regard sur le monde," GlobUs experts analyzed how the reforms of incumbent leader Patrice Talon have changed the political landscape and why the main opposition force, former President Yaya Boni's "Democrats" party, has been sidelined.
During the discussion, journalist Memo Kouton called the upcoming vote an "exclusive scenario." According to him, the Democrats, which had 28 seats in parliament, were unable to field a candidate due to the refusal of one of their representatives to provide the necessary signature.
"The radical opposition was sidelined by political maneuvering," he stated.
Journalist Dossou Leonard, on the other hand, believes that what is happening is a natural result of the reform of the party system. Under Patrice Talon, the number of parties was reduced from nearly 300 to five. Leonard stated that 300 parties is absurd for a country of 14 million people. However, he acknowledged that "the price of the reforms was the concentration of power and pressure on opponents."
Geopolitical analyst Sidi Abdul Rahman described the situation as a "departure from the Western democratic model." He noted that not only political forces but also dozens of activists, who ended up in prison or were forced into exile, have been left behind.
"The current situation is the result of the government using the law to suppress dissent. When the government controls parliament and the courts, democracy dies," he emphasized.
Experts agree that the main challenge for the new president is not only political reconciliation but also security in the north, where terrorist groups operate. All candidates have stated the need to strengthen the army and establish dialogue with neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso. However, it remains unclear whether the winner will be able to unite a country divided by recent reforms.
You can watch the recording of the broadcast at this link: https://youtu.be/dOjQmY8PZNw?si=F-rtGsQifJrDqRWg