Cotonou, 30 January, 2021 / 4:10 pm (ACI Africa).
Ahead of the April 2021 Presidential poll in Benin, Catholic Bishops in the West African country are calling on politicians and the leadership of institutions organizing the election to engage in an open dialogue for a peaceful, inclusive, democratic and transparent election.
In a statement availed to ACI Africa Wednesday, January 27, members of the Episcopal Conference of Benin (CEB) “strongly recommend that all political parties and institutions involved in the organization of the said elections engage in open dialogue in view of a peaceful, truly inclusive, democratic and transparent presidential election.”
The Bishops highlight “the growing differences between the political players in the race, the electoral calendar and sponsorships” as some of the factors that might cause instability in Benin.
In November 2019, members of Parliament in Benin passed a new electoral law that requires aspiring presidential candidates and their running mates (vice-president) to have the sponsorship of at least 10 percent of the mayors or their deputies before vying for the political seats.
However, the Beninese parliament is made up of deputies who are from the President’s political party, which jeopardizes the pluralism of presidential candidates.