Benin’s newly elected President Patrice Talon wants presidential terms reduced to just one five-year term and not the current two five-year terms.
Talon on Friday said he plans to cut the presidential term limits by half, after the constitutional court confirmed his election victory over prime minister Lionel Zinsou.
The new president garnered 65.4 percent of the vote cast in Sunday’s run-off poll to clinch victory and replace the outgoing Thomas Boni Yayi who is stepping down having served two terms in office.
“I will first and foremost tackle constitutional reform,” Talon told reporters, reinforcing a promise made during campaigning. One term of five years would reduce presidential “complacency”, he said.
The peaceful election was seen as reinforcing the democratic credentials of Benin, a bastion of stability in a region where elections are often marred by violence.
Boni Yayi has received much praise for relinquishing power after the elapse of his term in office, unlike other African leaders who have altered constitutions to enable them stay in power longer.
Talon said his government will be made up of 16 members, down from the 28 members of the outgoing government.
