Former Benin President Talon Becomes Head of New Senate

Former Benin President Patrice Talon has been elected president of the country’s newly created Senate, just over two months after leaving office.

Talon was elected on Aug. 6 to lead the upper chamber of parliament, making him Benin’s third-highest-ranking official after the president and vice-president, and ahead of the president of the National Assembly.

The Senate was established through a constitutional reform championed by Talon during the final months of his second presidential term.

He will serve a renewable five-year term as Senate president, leading a bureau that includes former National Assembly President Louis Vlavonou as vice-president and former Interior Minister Alassane Seïdou as rapporteur. Former Labour Minister Adidjatou Mathys was elected deputy rapporteur.

The new chamber has 25 senators, including former presidents and other senior officials who qualify as ex officio members.

The creation of the Senate had sparked controversy, with opposition groups criticising the timing and process of the constitutional reform, which was introduced six months before Talon left office.

Critics had alleged that the reform was designed to allow Talon to retain influence over political affairs after leaving office and provide additional protection from future disputes.

Supporters of the reform have rejected the claims, arguing that the Senate is part of broader institutional changes and does not grant former presidents immunity beyond existing constitutional protections.

Talon left office in April after two terms as president and was succeeded by Romuald Wadagni, whom he endorsed as his preferred successor.