Benin
National Assembly
-
Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
View field in the data dictionary -
Presidential system
-
Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
View field in the data dictionary -
Unicameral
-
IPU membership
Current membership status
View field in the data dictionary -
Yes
Election results
Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.
Background
-
Election date(s)
The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
View field in the data dictionary -
26 Apr 2015
-
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
View field in the data dictionary -
15 May 2015
-
Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
View field in the data dictionary -
Upon normal expiry
-
Number of seats at stake
Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
83
-
Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
View field in the data dictionary -
Full renewal
Candidates
-
Number of parties contesting the election
This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
View field in the data dictionary -
20
-
Total number of candidates
Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
View field in the data dictionary -
3,320
Notes: Number of candidates: 3,320. Each list needs to comprise the equal number as the seats to be filled and one substitute member for each candidate.
-
Number of male candidates
Number of male candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
2,990
-
Number of female candidates
Number of female candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
330
-
Percentage of women candidates
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
View field in the data dictionary -
9.9%
Voter turnout
-
Registered voters
Number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
4,470,591
-
Voters
Number of people who actually voted
View field in the data dictionary -
2,945,020
-
Voter turnout
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
65.9%
Results
-
About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
The Cauri Forces for an Emerging Benin coalition (FCBE), supporting President Thomas Boni Yayi, remained the largest party with 33 seats, down from 41. Its ally, the Union for Benin (UB), retained its two seats, thereby giving the pro-presidential camp 35 seats in the 83-member National Assembly.
A proposal to amend the constitution - drafts of which had twice been rejected by the National Assembly - dominated the election campaign, fuelled by speculation that the intention was to lift the two-term limit so President Yayi could seek a third consecutive term in 2016.
The opposition forces organized several rallies in protest, pledging to stop constitutional amendments so as to "save democracy". The FCBE, Sun Alliance and Alliance for a Triumphant Benin (ABT) are reportedly supportive of the amendments. Several key figures left the FCBE prior to the 2015 elections, including the outgoing Speaker Mathurin Nago, who formed the United Democratic Forces (FDU) in March in protest against possible constitutional amendments.
The Build the Nation Union (UN, the opposition coalition in 2011, see note 1) saw an internal split prior to the 2015 elections and its members fielded candidates separately. Nevertheless, the opposition parties submitted Mr. Adrien Houngbédji, President of the Party for Democratic Renewal (PRD), as their joint candidate for Speaker. On 20 May, he was elected with 42 votes (see note 2), defeating the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Komi Koutché, who was endorsed by the FCBE.
Note 1:
The major parties in the coalition in 2011 were the UN, the Rebirth of Benin (RB) and the PRD. The RB, led by the Mayor of Cotonou Nicephore Soglo, allied with the government for a short period after the 2011 elections. In 2015, it formed a coalition with the Patriotic Revival Party (RP).
Note 2:
Prior to the elections, the leaders of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (AND), the Sun Alliance, the FDU "Reso Atao" party and the Rebirth of Benin (RB) announced that they would support the candidacy of Mr. Houngbédji for the Speaker.
-
Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
View field in the data dictionary -
11
-
Percentage of parties winning seats
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
55.0%
-
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
39.8%
-
Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
View field in the data dictionary -
Not applicable
-
Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
View field in the data dictionary -
2
-
Names of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
View field in the data dictionary -
Cauri Forces for an Emerging Benin coalition (FCBE) and the Party for Democratic Renewal (PRD)
The new Cabinet, formed in June 2015, comprises several ministers who were elected on an FCBE ticket and one former PRD member who was not elected to the National Assembly.
A parliamentary group, Republic and Unity (République et Unité), supports President Thomas Boni Yayi, whose term is due to end in April 2016. The group comprises all members of the FCBE, the Union for Benin (UB) and the Scout Alliance (Alliance Éclaireur) as well as three members of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (AND). As a result, Republic and Unity controls 40 out of the 83 seats in the National Assembly.
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group | Total |
---|---|
Cauri Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE) | 33 |
Build the Nation Union (UN) | 13 |
Party for Democratic Renewal (PRD) | 10 |
Rebirth of Benin - Patriotic Revival Party (RB-RP) | 7 |
National Alliance for Democracy and Development (AND) | 5 |
Sun Alliance | 4 |
United Democratic Forces (FDU) | 4 |
Union for Benin (UB) | 2 |
Alliance for a Triumphant Benin (ABT) | 2 |
Scout Alliance (Alliance « Éclaireur ») | 2 |
Reso Atao party | 1 |
Members elected, by sex
- Number of men elected
-
77
- Number of women elected
-
6
-
Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.
View field in the data dictionary -
7.2%
- Women Directly Elected
-
6
- Sources
-
Constitutional Court
New legislature
-
Total number of men after the election
The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
77
-
Total number of women after the election
The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
6
-
Percentage of women after the election
The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of women in this parliament/chamber by the current number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
7.2%
-
First-term parliamentarians
The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
42
-
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of first-term parliamentarians by the number of seats at stake in the election.
View field in the data dictionary -
50.6%
-
Date of the first session
The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
View field in the data dictionary -
16 May 2015
First Speaker of the new legislature
- Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
-
Adrien Houngbédji (Male)
Date of birth: 1942 -
Political party
The political party to which the Speaker belonged to at the moment of the election. In some parliaments, the Speaker suspends or relinquishes their party membership during their term in office and is considered as an independent member.
View field in the data dictionary -
Party for Democratic Renewal (PRD)
-
Date of election
The date of the election of the Speaker may be different from the date of the first session of the new legislature.
View field in the data dictionary -
20 May 2015