As the presidential election of April 12 approaches, Benin is heading towards a vote largely dominated by the ruling party candidate, Romuald Wadagni.
The current Minister of Finance and designated successor to President Patrice Talon, he appears to be the clear favorite against a single opponent, Paul Hounkpè, a former minister and moderate figure in the opposition.
Many observers believe the competition will be unbalanced. The reason: the reforms to the party system undertaken in recent years, which have strengthened parties close to the government.
The duel is unbalanced," analyzes political scientist Franck Kinninvo, believing that the presidential majority now has far greater resources than its opponents.
The weakened opposition failed to gain a foothold. The main opposition party, The Democrats, was barred from the ballot due to a lack of sufficient endorsements, further reducing electoral competition.
Beyond the balance of power, the two candidates embody different visions of governance.
According to Franck Kinninvo, Paul Hounkpè advocates a project aimed at returning to the democratic spirit that emerged from the National Conference, while Romuald Wadagni advocates adjustments to the current framework, particularly in matters of public freedoms.
In the streets of Cotonou, interest in the election remains limited, with some voters believing that the outcome of the vote is already known.
The future president will nevertheless have to face several major challenges, including growing insecurity in the north of the country linked to jihadist attacks, as well as regional tensions.
In this context, the turnout rate will be closely scrutinized, in an election where the democratic balance is already widely questioned.
