Newly-elected Benin president Patrice Talon plans to reduce presidential mandates to just one five-year term, he said, after the constitutional court confirmed his election victory over Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou.
Talon took 65.4 percent of the vote in the other Sunday’s run-off poll to decide who would replace President Thomas Boni Yayi, who is stepping down after serving two terms in office, the constitutional court said on Friday.
Under the current Benin laws, all presidents have currently been serving (10 years) two five-year terms.
“I will first and foremost tackle constitutional reform,” Talon told Benin media, reinforcing a promise made during campaigning. One term of five years would reduce presidential “complacency”, he said.
Talon said his government will be made up of 16 members, down from the 28 members of the outgoing government.
[divider]
Photo – Reuters/Akintunde Akinleye- A billboard campaigning for presidential candidate, Patrice Talon, is seen along a road in the Akpakpa district in Cotonou, Benin, March 4, 2016.
