Politics
Patrice Talon elected president of Benin – pledges to reduce presidential terms
Newly-elected Benin president Patrice Talon plans to reduce presidential mandates to just one 5-year term, he said late on Friday, after the constitutional court confirmed his election victory over prime minister Lionel Zinsou.
Talon took 65.4 percent of the vote in last Sunday’s run-off poll to decide who would replace President Thomas Boni Yayi, who is stepping down after serving 2 terms in office, the constitutional court said on Friday. The figures confirmed results that came out earlier in the week.
“I will first and foremost tackle constitutional reform,” Talon told reporters, reinforcing a promise made during campaigning. One term of 5 years would reduce presidential “complacency”, he said.
Benin presidents can currently serve 2 five-year terms.
Talon said his government will be made up of 16 members, down from the 28 members of the outgoing government.
Source: Reuters