In Benin, the Constitutional Court confirmed Thursday the provisional results of the presidential election of April 11, giving the winner, in the first round, the outgoing president Patrice Talon who is seeking a second term.
“The duo Patrice Talon and Mariam Talata won 1,982,534 votes, and thus obtained the absolute majority of the votes to be elected in the first round”, declared to the press in Cotonou, the president of the Constitutional Court, Joseph Djogbénou.
This official assured that the ballot was “regular, sincere and transparent” and announced a participation rate in the ballot of 50.63%.
The court gave the opposition five days to file a possible appeal. Coincidence or not, one of the opposition leaders, whose presidential candidacy was rejected for lack of sponsorship, was arrested the same day by the judicial police. Joël Aïvo should appear in court this Friday.
In a speech after the results were confirmed, the head of state thanked voters and “congratulated the other contestants on their career, their sense of patriotism and democracy.”
He reiterated his threat, made the day before, to the troublemakers days before the presidential election. Those responsible for the pre-election violence will be prosecuted and punished, and the “instigators” of the protests will be identified, according to the head of state.
The president however assured that “it is together that we will build our country in harmony, national unity, peace, security”.
By OMA Newsletter N ° 233 of 04/16/2021
OMA, an NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
The enhancement of human potential
The promotion and consolidation of inter-African integration
Keywords: Presidential election, Constitutional Court, Confirmation of provisional results, Patrice Talon, Second term
Country: Benin
Geographic position: West Africa
