In Benin, the legislative elections will take place on January 8th. Launched in the middle of the holiday weekend, the electoral campaign got off to a smooth start. The Les Démocrates party of former President Boni Yayi is taking part for the first time. It is therefore the first ballot that could be described as inclusive under the presidency of Patrice Talon, since he came to power in 2016.
With our correspondent in Cotonou, Jean-Luc Aplogan
Giant billboards at the major intersections of Cotonou and inland towns, small noisy caravans in the neighborhoods, masses or worship of thanksgiving, Muslim prayer. This is how the seven political parties started their campaign
In Cotonou, Calavi, Porto-Novo and elsewhere, we see the yellow and the green of the two major parties of Patrice Talon’s camp, we also see the cauris of the Cauris Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE) and for the first time the flame of the party The Democrats is part of the electoral decor.
Proximity and small gatherings
” There will be a game sums up a relieved observer who welcomes the presence of the Democrats in the race. It’s called the colors of pluralism, he adds. On the posters, the faces of the candidates are displayed. A quota of 24 seats is reserved for women out of the 109 in parliament to be elected. All the leaders interviewed say they have opted for proximity and small gatherings.
The first attacks have begun. ” We are doing an opposition campaign “, explains Éric Houndété, of the Democrats. The media broadcast the messages of the 7 competing parties and the debates. The start of the campaign coincides with the Christmas weekend. The Archbishop of Cotonou celebrated two masses. Monsignor Roger Houngbédji called for peace in view of the ballot and for respect for human life.
The campaign, which opened on Friday December 23, ends on January 6.
►Also read: Legislative in Benin: eight lists, including that of the opposition, submitted to the electoral commission
To vote is first to express oneself, it is to express one’s dissatisfaction. It is also expressing one’s needs.
Beginning of the media campaign for the legislative elections of January 8