Benin’s new president to carry out major reforms in political system

He plans to reduce presidential mandates to just one five-year term, as he finds that the current Constitution gives significant power to the President for the control of all institutions of the country.

The cotton tycoon won the run-off poll of March 2016 presidential election with 65.37 percent of the vote and would replace President Yayi Boni whose two term office will end on April 6.

The contemplated political reforms include the modification of Constitutional court, Supreme Court, High Authority of Audiovisual and Communication, as well as presidential term office.

“With December 11, 1990 fundamental law, the president of the republic has extra powerful rule that enables him to dominate all institutions, to maintain all means of the State under his exclusive control, to weaken rights and to discriminate against citizens in the performance of his assignments,” Talon said.

Benin’s new president considers that, in these conditions, the executive body has become harmful as it is exposed to all institutional, structural and personal abuses.

“The executive body that works exclusively for the preservation of power and self-realization to the detriment of collective drive, jeopardizes democracy, freedom, emulation as well as human, social and economic development in our country, “he lamented.

Further, President Talon plans to modify the composition of Constitutional Court that should include former presidents of the country and former chairmen of National Assembly, besides judges, law professors and lawyers. Enditem

Source: Xinhua