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)
08 Jan 2023
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
11 Feb 2023
Timing of election
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections
11 Jan 2026
Number of seats at stake
109
Scope of elections
Full renewal

Candidates

Number of parties contesting the election
7
Total number of candidates
763
Number of male candidates
562
Number of female candidates
201

Notes: The figures above refer to the titular candidates. There were 228 women out of 763 substitute candidates.

Percentage of women candidates
26.3%

Voter turnout

Registered voters
6,769,817
Voters
2,558,446
Voter turnout
37.8%

Results

About the election

The two pro-presidential parties in the outgoing legislature – the Progressive Union for Renewal, and the Republican Block (BR) – won a total of 81 seats in the 109-member National Assembly. Unlike the previous elections in 2019 (see note), seven parties, including three allied to the opposition, were allowed to participate in the 2023 elections. One of the opposition parties, the Democrats (founded in 2020 by former president, Thomas Boni Yayi) took the remaining 28 seats in the new legislature. The leader of the Democrats, Mr. Eric Houndété, rejected the preliminary results, alleging fraud. Four other parties failed to pass the 10% threshold. On 23 January, the Constitutional Court validated the election results.

The 2023 elections were the first to be held under the 2019 Electoral Code. The statutory number of seats has increased from 83 to 109, of which 24 are reserved exclusively for women (article 144). The percentage of women increased from 7.23% in 2019 (6 women out of 83 members) to 25.69% in 2023 (28 women out of 109 members). National Assembly members serve a five-year term, instead of four as previously. Their five-year term is renewable twice (article 80). However, to organize general elections in 2026, members elected in 2023 will serve a three-year term, which will expire on the date when deputies elected in January 2026 enter into office (article 208). The parliamentarians who had already served three terms were allowed to contest the 2023 elections. The 2023–2026 legislature will be counted as one parliamentary term under article 80 of the 2019 Electoral Code.

Note:

The opposition was unable to participate in the 2019 elections due to a tightening of the voting rules. Former Presidents Yayi and Nicéphore Soglo called for an election boycott in 2019.

Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
48.6%
Alternation of power after elections
No
Names of parties in government
N/A: The composition of the government does not necessarily take account of the political parties in parliament.

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group Total
Progressive Union for Renewal 53
Republican Block (BR) 28
Democrats 28
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
81
Number of women elected
28
Percentage of women elected
25.7%
Women Directly Elected
28
Other notes on the elections

Note on the expected date of next elections:

Parliamentary elections are held on the second Sunday of January in election years (every five years) in accordance with article 7 of the 2019 Electoral Code.

In accordance with article 80 of the 2019 law that amended the Constitution, National Assembly members serve a five-year term instead of four, as previously. However, to organize general elections in 2026, members elected in 2023 will serve a three-year term. Their term will expire on the date when the deputies elected in January 2026 enter into office (see article 208 of the 2019 Electoral Code).

Note on date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature:

The date (11 February 2023) refers to the end of the mandate of the deputies elected in 2019. Parliament was not dissolved but rather renewed.

Note on the date of the first session of the new parliament:

In accordance with article 147 of the 2019 Electoral Code, each newly elected National Assembly will be convened on the second Sunday of February in every election year.

Sources

National Assembly (13.01.2023, 19.04.2023, 20.04.2023)

Proclamation des résultats des élections législatives du 08 janvier 2023, La Cour constitutionnelle

https://www.facebook.com/CourconstitutionnelleduBenin

BBC Monitoring

https://cdn.accf-francophonie.org/2019/03/benin-constitution-1990.pdf

https://www.reuters.com

https://www.lemonde.fr/en

https://www.africanews.com/

https://www.france24.com/en/

https://www.jeuneafrique.com

New legislature

Total number of men after the election
81
Total number of women after the election
28
Percentage of women after the election
25.7%
First-term parliamentarians
69
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
63.3%
Date of the first session
12 Feb 2023

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
Gbèhounou Louis Vlavonou (Male)
Date of birth: 1953
Political party
Progressive Union for Renewal
Date of election
12 Feb 2023

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