Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Vincent DEGUENON
Published on 2024-03-10 12:16:12
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Since Tuesday, March 5, Benin has a new electoral code voted by the deputies of the 9th legislature. This law that strengthens the party system is a real challenge for political parties that will have to roll up their sleeves to face the country’s first general elections.
In Benin, the deputies of the 9th legislature voted on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, March 5, 2024 for the amendment of the electoral code. This reform (79 votes in favor, 28 against, and one abstention) amends and complements law 2019-43 of November 15, 2019 on the Electoral Code in the Republic of Benin. The text denounced by the opposition, which speaks of an exclusion maneuver, has the merit of correcting some flaws in the party system, almost six years after its implementation.
For national unity and balanced development
According to this new code, a score of at least 20% must be achieved in the 24 constituencies, compared to 10 in the past, to claim a seat as a deputy. This principle implies that political parties are required to be present and sufficiently representative in all regions.
This requirement aims to truly strengthen national unity and promote balanced development throughout the territory. Thus, if a party neglects a region, it risks not obtaining enough votes there, which could lead to its elimination in that single constituency.
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The end of political prostitution
Furthermore, this provision allows parties to endure over time and contribute to the stability of the country. It also ensures that parties can no longer be under the influence of a regional leader, as they must now be representative in all regions, without exception.
Finally, each candidate in the presidential election must be supported by at least 15% of sponsors from 3/5 of the legislative electoral constituencies, that is, in absolute number, 15 constituencies out of the 24. Now it will require 28 deputies and mayors to sponsor a presidential candidate. The text also specifies that deputies and mayors can only sponsor candidates who are members or designated by the party that elected them.
Leadership and political support on a national scale
According to this law adopted by the National Assembly, the person who holds a state power position must be representative, as they come from a political party that is firmly established throughout the national territory. This formulation emphasizes the importance of the territorial representativeness of the political party to which the leader belongs, thus ensuring legitimacy on a national scale.
This is a novelty that seeks to draw inspiration from some large English-speaking democracies in Africa. In Ghana, for example, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are key players in political life. They have alternated in power and ensured peaceful transitions since the introduction of multi-partyism in 1992.
Similarly, in Nigeria, parties such as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have played an essential role in the governance of the country. Their presence on a national scale transcends regional divides, making it difficult to attribute a specific region to a political party.
These examples demonstrate that strong and representative political parties throughout the country are essential to maintain national cohesion and ensure stable governance. Therefore, it is necessary for Benin to bring new ingredients to its democracy after the introduction of multi-partyism in 1990 and the arrival of the party system in 2019.
Read the original article(French) on Benin Web TV
