In the parliamentary elections on 28. April in Benin, only two government approved close to parties. The Opposition criticized the sharp and feared the end of the former flagship of democracy.
The Union Progressiste is one of the two parties, the on 28. April for the election is allowed to take
In the West African state of Benin’s election: The country with 11.3 million inhabitants, decides on Sunday (28. April) on a new Parliament. To the metropolis of Cotonou margins in the business are proficient in two colors, the choice of posters: a matte Green for the “Bloc Républican” and a knalligeres Yellow for the “Union Progressiste”. It is the single parties, the leaflets on the voting – there are in Benin a variety of parties.
“What happens there, is not a choice”, writes Eric Houndété, first Vice-President of the national Assembly and a member of the Opposition. “The opposition parties have been excluded.” The President had created two private parties: “you belong to his political bloc. Ultimately, it is a party,” says Houndété.
Rwanda as a role model?
Benin’s President, Patrice Talon, was, according to the US-Forbes magazine, 2015 will be the “richest people in Benin”, with assets of 400 million US dollars. In 2016, the 60-year-old business man was elected in a runoff election for President. His supporters have always maintained: Talon will reform the country’s far-reaching.
In Benin, is often peddled that have taken Talon Rwanda and its President Paul Kagame as a model, and its efficiency guess. International Kagame has not always good press: His Regime was authoritarian, and all Opposition will be suppressed with violence, actions of human rights organizations.
Benin’s President Patrice Talon: Rwanda’s Paul Kagame as a model?
Erroneous applications and not paid taxes
On the admission of parties for the parliamentary election, not the President, but the national Autonomous electoral Commission (CENA) decides in Benin. On 5. March had denied five parties, including the Ex-President Boni Yayi, the approval. They justified this with faulty applications and not paid taxes. Control the not, since the documents are accessible to the public. “It is striking that the Opposition parties were not allowed,” observes Hans-Joachim Preuß, head of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Benin. Advance Changes were gone in the electoral law. “You have caused a high level of bureaucracy. Obviously, it is so that it is only managed by the government parties, to conform to these bureaucratic hurdles.”
You would have had the opposition parties are happy to have more competition, says Maurice Ahouangbè. He is a supporter of the President and was supported by Chairman of the youth organization of the party “Rassemblement des Béninois pour une nouvelle vision” (RBNV), the Talon at the time of his election in 2016. The decision of the electoral Commission, he nevertheless holds to be right: “Really its not a big deal. You will have the opportunity to catch up. This is not the only choice. 2020, there will be municipal and local elections. 2021 presidential elections are held. In my opinion you now have the Chance to organize better.”
A democracy without a heart
Much of the critical Djidénou Steve Kpoton, a lawyer and policy analyst in Cotonou, is: “The exclusion of the Opposition is organized, well roofed and well-executed.” This is not only for Benin, a bad Signal, but for the entire Region. Since the end of the socialist Era and the return to multi-party system in 1990, Benin is regarded as politically stable and democratic model. A special importance of the Constitution, which had been a model for many other African countries.
Lawyer Djidénu Steve Kpoton criticizes the “election without Opposition” sharp
In the meantime, the Image of Benin was scratched “a bit,” says Kpoton: “The heart of democracy, the Parliament is”. With the decision of the CENA would be Nominated from members only. However, it was also possible that within the parties, different wings are developing, says Preuß. “You should also watch what the are doing extra-parliamentary Opposition. To be part of this very many personalities of the public life.”
To have an Opposition outside of Parliament, it is not enough for Blanche Sonon. The Director of the non-governmental Organisation Social Watch Benin, says: “It is impossible to observe an election in which only two parties compete, the support, of all things, both the President.” Your organization, criticized the decision, therefore, sharp and finds: voters must have a choice of candidates, candidates and parties.