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Parliamentary elections were held in Benin on 28 April 2019.[1]
Background
The election date was set at a meeting of the Council of Ministers on 9 January 2019, with the term of the National Assembly elected in 2015 due to expire in March 2019.[1]
Electoral system
The 83 members of the National Assembly are elected by proportional representation in 24 multi-member constituencies, based on the country's departments.[2] A controversial new electoral code introduced in July 2018 saw the creation of an electoral threshold of 10% of the national vote to enter parliament (higher than most countries which use a threshold), whilst the deposit required for a parliamentary list was increased from 8.3 million francs to 249 million francs (equivalent to roughly 380,000 euros).[3] The reforms were aimed at reducing the large number of active political parties, which at the time numbered around 200.[3]
Although it was announced on 16 January 2019 that the opposition would form a single bloc to participate in the elections,[6] only two blocs were registered to contest the elections – the Republican Bloc and the Progressive Union, both of which were linked to President Patrice Talon.[7] The election commission rejected the applications of five opposition groups, including the PRD, Cowry Forces for the Development of Benin, Union for the Development of Benin, Moele-Bénin and the Social-Liberal Union.[8]
Conduct
Protests against the new electoral law were banned, with protesters defying the ban arrested.[9] Former presidents Nicéphore Soglo and Thomas Boni Yayi both spoke at a protest event in Cotonou, at which police used tear gas.[9] Prior to the elections, several opposition activists and political journalists were also arrested.[9]
On election day, NetBlocks reported the blocking of social media platforms and the subsequent disconnection of nearly all internet connectivity in the country.[10][11][12]
The turnout of 23% (if only valid votes are considered) was a significant drop from 65% from the previous election and the lowest in an election since Benin adopted democracy.
Results
Voting did not take place in 39 of the country's 546 arrondissements due to local incidents.[13]
