Event Summary
On 14 November 2025, the Parliament adopted Law No. 2025-20, amending the Constitution (Law No. 90-32 of 11 December 1990, as revised by Law No. 2019-40 of 7 November 2019), by 90 votes in favor and 19 against. The reform introduces significant constitutional changes and raises serious concerns regarding its democratic legitimacy. This development comes less than six months before Benin’s general elections, including the presidential, legislative, and local elections.
Notably, the reform follows the exclusion of all opposition parties from the upcoming elections. The presidential ticket of the party LES DÉMOCRATES, along with all of its municipal election candidate lists, were barred by the National Electoral Commission (CENA), a decision subsequently upheld by both the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court.
Key provisions of the reform include:
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Presidential term: extended from 5 to 7 years, renewable only once.
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Bicameral Parliament: consisting of the National Assembly and a newly established Senate.
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Parliamentary term: extended to 7 years, with mechanisms intended to prevent political party switching.
These reforms, however, have been widely perceived as a consolidation of power. They were enacted without national consensus, public mobilization, or meaningful consultation with civil society. When combined with the prior exclusion of political opposition, these factors raise serious doubts about the legitimacy, fairness, and democratic acceptability of the constitutional amendments.