Political news in Benin : Year in review 2022

In few hours, the year 2022 will give way to 2023. But before Gaskiyani info returns to the significant political events of the year 2022 in Benin. From the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Benin to the resignation of Joseph Djogbénou and the dissolution of the PRD, political news from 2022 is also marked by the repechage of the opposition party “Democrats for Legislative 2023.

End of July, French President Emmanuel Macron sets foot on Beninese soil and will stay there for two days. It is an official visit at the invitation of his Beninese counterpart.. Head-to-head between the two heads of state, opening of the royal treasures exhibited at the Marina Palace in Cotonou and other exchange meetings constituted the menu of the visit of the French n°1 in Benin. If the royal treasures of Abomey repatriated from France are the main subject of Emmanuel Macron's visit, the fact remains that other subjects such as security, partnership agreements and the economy are addressed. It is a very beneficial event for the Beninese president, whom some opinions quickly qualified as unloved internationally because of his very atypical way of leading and the absence of his peers during the August 1 parades., day of the celebration of the accession of Benin to independence. “I express our gratitude to you for your visit which honors us” said Patrice Talon. He who has also made a small assessment of the contribution of France to the Beninese economy. Cooperation between the two countries has experienced unparalleled development over the past five years, according to Patrice Talon. Economically with more 500 billion in direct public financial support from France and contributions from French private banks reached 800 million euros with the BPI guarantee for the most part. Talon also qualified the relations between the two countries "are uninhibited and rid of the burdens of the past. ” rejoiced Patrice Talon.

Talon-Yayi reunion at the Marina

Warm handshakes and broad smiles. These images of Talon and Yayi exchanging friendships in front of the cameras went around the world and heated the web, actor Philippe Bas. We felt a certain relaxation in the socio-political atmosphere in Benin. “Each time you do not spare me your availability. You spare neither your efforts nor your reflections to give me useful advice and once again I say thank you for that” confided the President of the Republic Patrice Talon to his host. And I mean how useful these kinds of exchanges are. Exchange that Patrice Talon has already had with Nicéphore Soglo, the other former Beninese president still alive. Social cohesion, insecurity and political peace were the issues addressed by these Beninese political leaders whose influence on the entire political class is well established. “We discussed and He reassured me that he recorded everything and above all that he marked his availability to maintain this permanent dialogue with all the people who had the opportunity to meet at the top of the State and at the top of our institutions so that it takes it into account in its vision," declared Boni Yayi for his part.. This political act marks another turning point in the attitude of the successor of Patrice Talon at the Marina. Thomas Boni Yayi seems softer in his posts on his Facebook page and no longer criticizes, at least publicly, the rupture regime as before.

Exit le PRD, Welcome UP the Renewal

The year is also marked by the end of an era, that of the so-called historic political parties in Benin. After the RB disappearances, PSD or MADEP, it is the turn of the Democratic Renewal Party PRD to leave the Beninese political spectrum. After 30 years of existence and political battles, the requiem of the party with the rainbow logo is pronounced by its leaders guided by master Adrien Houngbédji. In the process, the party merges with the Progressive Union to give the Progressive Union Renewal (UPR). If this marriage is perceived as political pragmatism for some, he is qualified for others, as a last resort for two political stables in search of a second wind. If the PRD was at the origin of the creation of the Republican Bloc, some said that the deal fell through because of the distinctive signs of Choco choco in the new dynamic. One thing remains remarkable with the Union Progressive le Renouveau. In form the Democratic Renewal Party (FART) maintains its attributes on the logo of the new party created. Its rainbow will overhang the green baobab. The weight of the new political baby will be gauged on the scales of the legislative elections of the 8 January 2023, first real electoral test of the candidates of the presidential movement since 2016.

And Joseph Djogbénou left the Constitutional Court

Very few people other than insiders saw the professor's decision coming.. If these talks with the President of the Republic, that of the National Assembly and those of other institutions of the republic constituted the duck menu, nothing predicted this sudden exit from the high court with such a crash. " In life, positions don't matter. In life, these are the objectives” he will say to justify his act from the outset before indicating that “These objectives in a democratic society in a state under construction are essentially political and consist of serving while pursuing”. Joseph Fifamè Djogbénou especially felt that he had accomplished his mission at the head of the Constitutional Court and that the time had come for him to really get into the political field in his political party, the Union Progressive. (the LNA party benefited from the support of the political parties of the presidential movement, in particular the Union ¨Progressiste). days later, he will be acclaimed president of the UP following the retirement of old veterans like Bruno Amoussou, now former and first president of the UP, Idji Kolawole and Mathurin Nago. His advent will certainly have accelerated the merger between the PRD and the UP to give UPR.

Legislative Inclusive under the Rupture

The 2nd legislative election will have been the right one. At least for the political stables which do not share the same vision as the power in place. In 2019, it was the certificate of conformity that failed many so-called opposition political parties. The incidents that followed are still chilling. Material damage to amputees and even deaths are counted in certain localities of the country due to the incidents that have occurred. in november 2022, the syndrome almost resurfaced as soon as the fiscal discharge bomb exploded on the head of the party ”The Democrats”.  Some of their candidates will not have received a tax certificate in time. Four of them accumulate up to nearly one billion five million FCFA in tax debt. Their file was almost rejected when after an appeal the Constitutional Court led by Razaki Issifou Amouda, successor to Joseph Djogbénou, does not report a procedural defect of the Directorate General of Taxes (DGI) to order the 17 November to the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (PRICE) to consider a new file introduced by the party on 15 November, well beyond the deadline prescribed by the electoral code in force. According to the decision only the four candidates without tax clearance will be replaced on the grounds that "prescription does not run against the one who could not act" according to the formula used by the wise men. “We can say to ourselves that there is still a space of law and constitutional law in our country, even if he is thin” estimated Jude Bonaventure Lodjou, responsible for party operations in the columns of Jeune Afrique. "The fight begins now and we will meet on the ground" he will launch to the opponents. The Democrats will therefore be, with the Popular Liberation Movement (MPL) and the Cauris Force for an Emerging Benin (FCBE) the three opposition parties in the starting block. In front, four are from the presidential movement. They are Republican Bloc, Progressive Union Renewal, MOELE-BININ et l'UDBN. In all, seven political parties will have their logos on the ballot on Sunday 08 January 2023

Arnaud ACAKPO (Coll)