Presidential elections of 2021 in Benin : Meeting between CENA and CSOs

A discussion session brought together members of the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (PRICE) and Civil Society Organizations (Osc) at the institution's headquarters, Friday 02 October 2020. On the menu, the preliminary work on the distribution of state funding to political parties and the institution's roadmap for the next presidential election.

Bachir ISSA

This meeting comes the day after exchanges between the institution responsible for organizing the elections and the leaders of political parties during which, clarifications have been made regarding the method of sponsorship in the context of the presidential elections 2021. This under article 132 of the electoral code, the sponsorship of the duo (President – vice-president) by a mayor or a deputy will be done anonymously.

For this purpose, the commissioners of the autonomous national electoral commission provided a precise idea of ​​the arrangements made by the institution for a moderate distribution of funding, the distribution methods and criteria. In addition, the latter also insisted on anonymity with regard to sponsorship.. This provision will allow each person who wants to run for the supreme office to negotiate without problem with mayors or deputies to apply..

After these explanations, civil society actors who ensure peacekeeping and free and transparent elections have made observations for an optimal organization of the upcoming presidential election. So, sponsorship management review proposals are made to CENA members. Their wish is that the sponsorship be accessible to everyone.

On this concern of civil society organizations, the President of the CENA, Emmanuel Tiando first explained the inability of the institution to modify a law despite the relevance of the proposals before directing them to the competent institutions, in particular the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly, which are the guarantors of the laws of the republic..

Finally, for the President of the CENA there is no point in making a proposal to someone who is unable to act but says he is ready to apply a decision of the constitutional court. Because he says "we are