Denouncing fraud, the main Beninese opposition party on Thursday rejected the provisional results of the legislative elections which give victory to the camp of President Patrice Talon.
According to these results, published the day before by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (Cena), the presidential movement won 81 of the 109 seats in parliament, against 28 for the main opposition party, The Democrats. Final results are expected on Friday.
This election must mark the return of the opposition to parliament after four years of absence, because it had not been able to participate in the previous legislative elections due to a tightening of the rules of the ballot by the power.
In an early Thursday morning press conference, Democratic Leader Eric Houndete denounced “flagrant” ballot stuffing, vote-rigging and vote-buying by the two main pro-power parties, but failed to provide evidence. immediately.
“The Democratic party rejects these results, which do not reflect the will of the people to make us the leading political force in the country,” Mr. Houndete said.
“The scores attributed to the two Siamese parties (pro-Talon) could only be achieved with schemes put in place to distort the democratic game,” he added.
Last Sunday’s elections, which were held peacefully, served as a key test for the small West African country, once seen as a model of democracy.
Mr. Talon, a wealthy businessman, was elected president there in 2016, and re-elected in 2021.
While his supporters believe he has promoted economic development, the opposition points out that he has set back democracy there, with his main opponents having been either imprisoned or forced into exile.
An observation mission from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ruled that Sunday’s poll had taken place peacefully and in accordance with the rules in force.