Presidential 2026: The war of succession engaged

Who to succeed Patrice Talon as head of Beninese state ? While some call on the head of state to violate the constitution by running for a third term, others, in his surroundings, are positioning themselves to occupy the presidential chair in 2026.

It is clear that President Talon can no longer run for another term, in any case as long as the current constitution remains in force. This indeed stipulates that “in no case, no one can, to live, serve more than two presidential mandates. So, despite the calls of foot, the alternation will take place in three years, which is already arousing desires in the intimate circle of the Head of State.

The latest media release in this direction is that of a pressure group claiming to be Olivier Boko. Nicknamed vice-president in the meantime given his proximity and easy access to the president's office, the latter is a long-time friend and partner, in fact the man Patrice Talon trusts the most. He has always evolved in the shadows and, until this day, avoided holding an official position even though it would have been enough to ask to get what he wants.

The call for applications from Olivier Boko was launched by a group of “young people” from the Ouémé valley, the same region which had also pressed, from the first hours, Patrice Talon to position himself on the list of candidates in 2016. Who is behind this call ? The question will remain unanswered but rarely such movements are spontaneous.

At any rate, the darling of the “young people” of the Ouémé valley is not the only presidential candidate in the entourage of the Head of State. While some consider him to have been let go by Patrice Talon, Joseph Djogbénou’s “friends” have not yet said their last word. Despite an apparent disgrace, they continue to push behind the scenes to position their favorite.

Former MP, then Minister of Justice and President of the Constitutional Court before continuing his career as simple party president, despite everything, he remains the chef’s personal lawyer. He therefore knows all the personal files well before 2016. He is the one who protects the personal interests of his client, which means that it is above all he who can best protect the interests of Patrice Talon if the latter were to give up his chair.

The other name circulating is that of Romuald Wadagni. Apolitical, he never involved himself in dirty business or intrigue. On the contrary, he always stayed in his field, namely finance, field in which it is an international benchmark

Indeed, the Minister of State for the Economy and Finance of Patrice Talon since his accession to power in 2016 is a young executive graduated from major European and American schools and who is keen to always achieve the best for his country. So he doesn't have time to think about the future., to his political future after the Talon era. He himself would be surprised to be offered the position of President Talon's candidate as he seems more like a faithful errand boy., a devoted servant of the leader who revealed it to the general public.

What is certain, in the entourage of President Patrice Talon, visibility is not yet clear as so many names are circulating and people who were apparently well positioned until now seem more or less sidelined.

Strategist, President Talon is often one step ahead of both his adversaries and his collaborators. He probably already knows that the opposition party risks raiding if it positions a candidate unloved by the population. To avoid certain failure, he could choose a candidate against whom the opposition will be disarmed. And who better in this context than to bring out a diagram of a man known to the people but whom no one can imagine as the diagram of Yayi in 2016 who chose Lionel Zinsou ?

Pierre MATCHOUDO