Benin’s National Assembly has approved a major constitutional amendment introducing a new Senate and extending the duration of presidential and legislative terms.
Under the reform, presidential and parliamentary terms will increase from five to seven years beginning next year. However, the two-term presidential limit remains unchanged.
This means the changes will not benefit President Patrice Talon, who has only seven months left in his second and final term.
The amendment also establishes a Senate that will consist of an estimated 25 to 30 members.
The upper chamber is designed to include individuals with extensive public and security experience, such as former presidents, past National Assembly speakers, former heads of the Constitutional Court, as well as retired military chiefs of staff.
According to the new constitutional framework, the Senate is expected to “regulate political life to safeguard and strengthen national unity, democracy, and peace.”
It will have the authority to request a second reading of bills approved by the National Assembly—excluding certain categories like finance bills.
The reform passed with 90 votes in favour and 19 against, surpassing the constitutionally required four-fifths majority.
