It's no longer a secret. Romuald Wadagni will be the next president of Benin, and his running mate Mariam Chabi Talata, the vice-president. This was the decision made by the Beninese people following the presidential election of April 12th.

The duo, credited with 94.05% of the votes cast according to the provisional results communicated by the Electoral Commission, will be invested next May in Porto-Novo.

"The Democrats, although excluded from this electoral process, acknowledge the results."

The opposition party Les Démocrates, which failed to participate in the election, issued a statement congratulating the finance minister on his election.

"The provisional results proclaimed by the National Autonomous Electoral Commission (CENA) show your duo as the clear winners of the presidential election of April 12, 2026. The Les Démocrates party, although excluded from this electoral process, acknowledges the results and sends you its republican congratulations for your election to the highest office of our country," the note reads.

The political party then expresses the wish that Mr. Wadagni's seven-year term will be "placed under the sign of national unity, social justice, the restoration of inclusive democratic processes and the scrupulous respect for fundamental freedoms."

Release "political prisoners"

 

This includes, in particular, "the release of political prisoners, the return of political exiles, political consultation, development refocused on human dignity and social progress; and the restoration of individual freedoms," according to the former party of Boni Yayi.

He promises, in any case, to "make himself available to maintain a constructive dialogue and propose relevant alternatives when necessary." Ultimately, the political party wishes the president-elect every success in fulfilling his republican mission.