Benin: Eric Houndété, president of the Democrats party, is the new leader of the opposition

Benin has an opposition leader in Eric Houndété, president of the Democrats party, the party of former head of state Boni Yayi. The latter declared it even before the release of the official act.

Eric Houndété, here at a press conference in Cotonou in May 2019, Yanick Folly / AFP

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With our correspondent in Cotonou, Jean-Luc Aplogan

At the end of April, at the end of an audience with President Patrice Talon, Eric Houndété revealed to the press that the head of state was in favorable dispositions to appoint him. The decree was issued a few weeks later but before the official act, the opponent was already in the self-proclamation. "I am Eric Houndété, I am leader of the opposition in accordance with the laws of the republic," he introduced himself.

The Democrats came first, ahead of all the other opposition political parties, with 28 MPs. According to the law, the crown belongs to them with attributes demanded by the new leader of the opposition: "The leader of the opposition has an administration that he manages with personnel supported by the state, with means. You are not a leader if there is not a queue.

The Leader of the Opposition is appointed by the Head of State. The opponent finds it a bit embarrassing. "It is not logical that it is the President of the Republic who appoints the leader of the opposition. Deputies are not appointed by the Head of State. They are therefore elected. It is a decision of the Court that proclaims them. Those who made the law, should have had the intelligence to entrust this responsibility to the Constitutional Court," he explains.

While waiting for the law to be challenged, Patrice Talon appointed him and he accepted.

>> READ ALSO: Benin: the party The Democrats rejects the results of the legislative elections

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• Benin
• Patrice Talon