Benin: towards a political relaxation after the meeting between Patrice Talon and Boni Yayi?

Boni Yayi (left) and Patrice Talon, here in April 2016 in Abidjan.

AFP - ISSOUF SANOGO

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

President Talon's management of democracy and freedoms is criticized by his opponents and international NGOs.

The climate is tense and the opposition's demands to take measures to ease the political climate have so far gone unheeded.

But on Wednesday, Patrice Talon received his predecessor Boni Yayi at the presidential palace for the first time since 2016.

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So far the opposition has formulated its demands during meetings, press briefings or via social networks.

Boni Yayi decided to take them directly to President Talon in his palace and without witnesses.

The approach is new.

Suddenly, this meeting, still unimaginable the day before, is interpreted by observers as the start of a process.

One question: are the two men now ready to turn the page and make major concessions?

Publicly Patrice Talon has said nothing about the claims of his predecessor: release of political prisoners and return of exiles.

But it's not just that, the electoral calendar provides for legislative elections in 2023, recalls our correspondent in Cotonou,

Jean-Luc Aplogan

.

Boni Yayi did not mention this issue, but he counts a lot for the opposition who wants the bolts that deprived him of the legislative elections in 2019 and the presidential election in 2021 to jump.

Let's not go faster than music, tempers a warned observer, let's wait for signs from each political camp in the days to come.

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To read also: 

Benin: meeting between President Patrice Talon and the opponent Boni Yayi

The political class awaiting Talon's response

On the side of the political class, reactions were mixed following this meeting.

Surprise for some, frustration at not having been invited for others.

If he says he is satisfied with Boni Yayi's proposals, Antoine Guédou, vice-president of the opposition collective, is now awaiting the response from Patrice Talon: “

Already the release of the prisoners, the return of the exiles.

We are in the Republic so respect for the law, that's all!

Respect for the texts of the Republic.

The political class is awaiting President Talon's response. 

"

Member of the presidential movement, Abdoulaye Gounou believes that Patrice Talon did not have to respond directly to Boni Yayi for reasons of protocols and that for the entire political class, the main thing is to move forward: " 

Getting entangled in wars and interpersonal quarrels will not benefit our country.

 "

It remains to be seen how President Patrice Talon will respond to this call from Boni Yayi.

Some in the opposition do not believe in this outstretched hand: "

They have already done the blow to us, they are only interested in their political agenda 

".

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• Benign

• Patrice Talon

• Thomas Boni Yayi