In Benin, voters went to the polls without much enthusiasm on Sunday, May 17, to elect their municipal councilors. A poll tarnished by the risks of contagion to the coronavirus and the boycott calls of several opposition parties. 

"No major incident at midday," noted the platform of civil society organizations in a press briefing. A trend that seems to have been confirmed throughout the day throughout the territory. 

The participation rate remains average, however, noted several observers after counting the ballots in several polling stations. The final results are not expected before a week.

Fear of the Covid-19

In opposition strongholds, notably in Tchaourou, or the Cadjehoun neighborhoods of Cotonou, bastion of ex-president Boni Yayi, participation did not exceed 10%, AFP noted. 

Voters did not move massively to the polls, in particular because of the risks of propagation of the Covid-19. 

Special measures to protect voters had, however, been taken by the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (Cena), notably the distribution of hydro-alcoholic gel and masks.

The Beninese President, Patrice Talon, went to vote with his wife, both masked, in Cotonou, the economic capital where the majority of the 339 officially declared cases of coronavirus in the country have been recorded.

The security measures did not succeed in reassuring the voters, who came out "drop by drop", observed Dimitri Assani, an electoral agent stationed in the fifth district of the city.

"Forced March Elections"

In addition, only four minor opposition parties were able to present electoral lists, and many voices denounced "forced march elections". 

Former head of state Boni Yayi recently withdrew from the presidency of his party, accusing the head of state of preparing a "single party in his pay". 

"Patrice Talon believes he has put the Republic under rule," said Joseph Tamegnon, one of the opposition leaders in a joint statement by "political figures of the Resistance". 

"We invite you to stay at home, and not to take any risks by going out on this parody day," he said before the vote.

Severe political crisis

In 2019, the legislative elections, which no opposition party had been able to stand for, marked a turning point in Benin's democratic life with its very low participation (25%) and the serious political crisis that followed. 

Thousands of people, including supporters of Boni Yayi, took to the streets before being dispersed with live ammunition. Patrice Talon was then accused of authoritarianism in a country often touted as an example of democracy in the region. 

"The municipal elections are definitely the end of political pluralism in Benin, and therefore of democracy", reacted for their part the lawyers of Sébastien Ajavon, who currently lives in exile, like many leaders of the Benin opposition.

"They will definitively prevent our client and the other serious opposition candidates from running for the presidential elections", denounce as for them Maître Julien and Marc Bensimhon, recalling that according to the new electoral code, the next presidential candidates scheduled for April 2021 must be sponsored by MPs and mayors. "None of them will sponsor Sébastien Ajavon or another serious political opponent," added the lawyers in a letter sent to AFP.

With AFP

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