APA – Cotonou (Benin) – For several months now, the political news in Benin has been dominated by the controversy surrounding the revision of the constitution and the electoral code. The parliamentary groups formed in the National Assembly will discuss these issues with President Patrice Talon on Monday.
On 22nd January the President of Benin met the three parliamentary groups that make up the National Assembly. Les Démocrates MPs are in favour of meeting the head of the executive, but in a press release their group issued a number of warnings. “The Les Démocrates party warns the Beninese people against any manipulation of the conclusions of this meeting by those in charge of the communication unit of the Presidency of the Republic,” wrote party spokesman Guy Dossou Mitopkè in a statement. The party recalls that it was the victim of manipulation of the conclusions of its meeting on 27 December at the presidential palace.
After the meeting, President Talon’s communication department broadcast a summary of the talks on national television. The delegation, led by former president Boni Yayi, leader of the Les Démocrates party, took offence. The opposition cried foul, insisting that at no time had they been told that the audience with the president would be filmed.
With regard to Monday’s discussions at the presidential palace, the Les Démocrates party claims that “any malicious manipulation desecrates the presidency and dishonours all our people”.
There are two main issues on the agenda for Patrice Talon’s meetings with the three parliamentary groups on Monday. Firstly, the Constitutional Court’s injunction to the National Assembly to revise the electoral code will be discussed. The Supreme Court issued its ruling on 04 January. Opposition MPs, who are in a minority in parliament, refuse to comply with the order.
The second issue that the President will raise with the MPs is the debate that has been going on for several weeks about an alleged plan to revise the Constitution. The opposition accuses Patrice Talon of trying to force his way into office to run for a third term when his two constitutional five-year terms expire in 2026.
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