Presidential 2026: The Talon dolphin in question

Who to replace President Patrice Talon at the end of his two terms in office? 2026 ? The question may seem premature, but the political maneuvers of this mid-July 2022 suggests a beginning of positioning of the probable replacement(s) of the Head of State.

Already on the steps of the Palace of the Republic, Mariam Talata seems best placed to occupy her leader's chair, she who is vice-president of Benin. In many cases, this post of vice-president makes its occupant a sufficiently legitimate leading actor to carry the voices of his party or of the coalition of parties in power. Chosen from among all the members of the Bloc Républicain and the Union Progressive, Mariam Talata is supposed to be a popular personality, with a solid electoral base.

But that's not the case. Elected from the 8th electoral district, the current vice-president is not sure to come out on top against the dinosaurs of this constituency like Sacca Lafia or Rachidi Gbadamassi. His position, it owes it to the magnanimity of President Talon and not to his popular inking. President Talon no doubt understands this and for an open election, it is not sure that the latter takes the risk of positioning it.

If Talata appears offside, the other most prominent figure to replace Talon is Joseph Djogbénou. He has just resigned from his position as President of the Constitutional Court to militate in the Progressive Union. He was immediately appointed as the first person in charge of this political formation, replacing Bruno Amoussou who would have decided to retire..

Before that, Djogbénou was successively Deputy Chairman of the Law Commission and Minister of Justice. This course in just six years suggests that Joseph Djogbénou is preparing for the management of the State. But beyond these considerations, Djogbénou is one of the most faithful close to President Talon, of whom he is the personal lawyer. Thereby, he is the only one able to protect the interests of the latter if he becomes President of the Republic.

More, politics has its logic and therefore it is not excluded that the Head of State chooses another actor to the surprise of all, as he has already done by choosing Mariam Talata as vice-president

Damien TOLOMISSI