Beninese presidential election, 2006 4409982 211048466 2008-05-08T15:45:17Z Everyking 44020 {{Politics of Benin}} A '''presidential election''' was held in the West African state of [[Benin]] on [[March 5]] [[2006]]. Long-time president [[Mathieu Kérékou]] was barred from running again by a two term limit and an age limit of 70 years for candidates; in July 2005 he signalled that he would not seek to change the constitution, as has been done in some other African countries, so that he could run again. Kérékou's long-time rival [[Nicéphore Soglo]] was also barred from standing due to his age.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=55408 "Kerekou says will retire next year, will not change constitution to stay in power"], IRIN, July 12, 2005.</ref> With both of the men who had been the country's leading political figures for many years unable to contest the election, it had a level of openness and unpredictability that is uncommon to African presidential elections. Since no candidate won a majority, a second round was held between the two leading candidates on [[March 19]]; [[Yayi Boni]] won the election and took office in April. 33 candidate applications were registered with the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA). In a ruling issued on [[January 30]] [[2006]], the Constitutional Court accepted 26 of these candidacies. The candidacies of Daniel Shalom, Vincent Emmanuel Ahounou, and Adébayo Ananie were rejected because they were deemed medically unfit for the presidency, while the candidacies of Lary Egoundoukpè and Alidou Tamama were rejected because they had not paid the deposit of five million [[CFA franc]]s required of candidates. Another two candidates, Edgar Alias and Yaro Sourakatou, withdrew in favor of Boni prior to the ruling. The approved candidates included three serving members of Kérékou's government: [[Zul Kifl Salami]], [[Antoine Dayori]], and [[Kamarou Fassassi]]. Additionally, the Constitutional Court approved the candidacies of two heads of major institutions: those of [[Antoine Idji Kolawolé]], the President of the [[National Assembly of Benin|National Assembly]], and [[Raphiou Toukourou]], the President of the Economic and Social Council.<ref>[http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=PAN60026lacouseruta0 "La Cour constitutionnelle retient 26 candidatures"], Panapress (Jeuneafrique.com), January 30, 2006 {{fr icon}}.</ref> In the first round, held on March 5, Boni, former chairman of the [[West African Development Bank]], placed first with about 35% of the vote, and former President of the [[National Assembly of Benin|National Assembly]] [[Adrien Houngbédji]] of the [[Democratic Renewal Party (Benin)|Democratic Renewal Party]] placed second with about 24% of the vote. In third place was the [[Social Democratic Party (Benin)|Social Democratic Party]]'s candidate [[Bruno Amoussou]], a former speaker of parliament and planning minister who obtained about 16% of the vote, and in fourth place was [[Benin Rebirth Party|Benin Renaissance]] candidate [[Lehady Soglo]], son of former president Nicéphore Soglo, with about 8% of the vote. Boni was an independent candidate, and this was his first election; Houngbédji and Amoussou had both run for president three previous times.<ref name="Elections">[http://africanelections.tripod.com/bj.html Elections in Benin], African Elections Database.</ref><ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=58325 "Profiles of front-runners in presidential race"], IRIN, March 3, 2006.</ref> Shortly after results were announced in mid-March, the government set the date for the second round between Boni and Houngbédji for March 19. The country's election commission asked for more time, but this was refused. Boni was backed for the second round by both Amoussou and Soglo.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=58477 "Rejecting appeal, government sets poll for 19 March"], IRIN, March 18, 2006.</ref> He won the second round with almost 75% of the vote<ref name="Elections"/> and was sworn in on April 6.<ref>Virgile Ahissou, [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=86&art_id=qw1144360081847B215 "Celebrations in Benin as Boni takes office"], Associated Press (''IOL''), April 7, 2006.</ref> {{Benin presidential election, 2006}} [[Image:Beninese presidential election 2006 - pollstation.jpg|thumb|Members of the [[National Autonomous Electoral Commission]] (CENA) are counting the votes after the second round on [[March 19]], [[2006]].]] [[Image:Beninese presidential election 2006 - vote transport.jpg|thumb|Civil Society members offer their own transportation means to carry and safeguard the transparent ballot boxes from the polling stations to the electoral commission offices.]] ==Official first round results== Registered Voters: 3,917,865<br> Voter Turnout: 3,200,944<br> Votes Cast: 3,014,167<br> The results were as follows: 1) [[Boni Yayi]] 1,074,308<br> 2) [[Adrien Houngbédji]] 727,239<br> 3) [[Bruno Amoussou]] 489,122<br> 4) [[Léhadi Vinagnon Soglo]] 253,478<br> 5) [[Antoine Kolawolé Idji]] 97,595<br> 6) [[Lazare Sehoueto]] 61,195<br> 7) [[Séverin Adjovi]] 53,304<br> 8) [[Antoine Dayori]] 37,436<br> 9) [[Kamarou Fassassi]] 29,494<br> 10) [[Janvier Yahouedehou]] 23,054<br> 11) [[Luc-Marie Constant Gnacadja]] 20,269<br> 12) [[Daniel Tawema]] 18,125<br> 13) [[Ibrahima Djériwô Idrissou Djarra]] 18,106<br> 14) [[Richard Senou]] 15,672<br> 15) [[Souley Dankoro]] 9,929<br> 16) [[Marie-Elise Gbedo]] 9,815<br> 17) [[Célestine Zanou]] 9,474<br> 18) [[Lionel Agbo]] 9,026<br> 19) [[Zul-Kifl Salami]] 8,538<br> 20) [[Richard Adjaho]] 7,448<br> 21) [[Gatien Houngbedji]] 6,544<br> 22) [[Djimon Hodonou]] 6,512<br> 23) [[Galiou Soglo]] 5,243<br> 24) [[Kouessan LéandreDjagoue]] 4,665<br> 25) [[Marcel Didier Gbaguidi]] 3,479<br> 26) [[Raphiou Toukourou]] 3,419<br> ==Official second round results== Eligible Voters: 3,919,550<br> Voter Turnout: 2,725,634<br> Votes Cast: 2,656,070<br> 1) [[Boni Yayi]] 1,979,305<br> 2) [[Adrien Houngbédji]] 673,937 ==References== <references/> ==External links== * [http://www.usaid.gov/bj/democracy/election.html Achieving Transformational Democracy in Africa: Benin strikes again] ([[United States Agency for International Development|USAID]]) *Yayi Boni, [http://www.yayiboni.com/ Yayi Boni's Official Campaign Website] (in French) *Houngbedji 2006, [http://www.houngbedji2006.com/ Official Website of Adrien Houngbedji] (in French) *CENA, [http://www.cena.bj/ Commission Electoral Nationale Autonome] (in French) {{Beninese elections}} [[Category:Elections in Benin]] [[Category:2006 elections in Africa]] [[Category:2006 in Benin|Election]] [[fr:Élection présidentielle béninoise de 2006]]