Benin

National Assembly

Political system
Presidential system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
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)
26 Apr 2015
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
15 May 2015
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Number of seats at stake
83
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
20
Total number of candidates
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
2,990
Number of female candidates
330
Percentage of women candidates
9.9%

Voter turnout

Registered voters
4,470,591
Voters
2,945,020
Voter turnout
65.9%

Results

About the election

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
11
Percentage of parties winning seats
55.0%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
39.8%
Alternation of power after elections
Not applicable
Number of parties in government
2
Names of parties in government
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

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
7.2%
Women Directly Elected
6
Sources

Constitutional Court

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
77
Total number of women after the election
6
Percentage of women after the election
7.2%
First-term parliamentarians
42
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
50.6%
Date of the first session
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
Party for Democratic Renewal (PRD)
Date of election
20 May 2015

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No