Lawmakers in Benin Republic have voted in favour of a major constitutional amendment that extends the presidential term from five to seven years and introduces a new Senate, officially transforming the country’s legislature into a two-chamber system.
The decision was announced on Saturday through a post by the Assemblée Nationale du Bénin after a plenary session held on Friday at the Palace of the Governors in Porto-Novo.
According to the Assembly, 90 lawmakers voted in support of the bill while 19 opposed it, leading to the approval of changes to Benin’s 1990 Constitution, last revised in 2019.
Before the final vote, the proposal had to meet a three-quarters requirement under Article 154. During the preliminary vote, legislators met that threshold with 87 votes in favour and 22 against, clearing the way for the final secret ballot.
The parliamentary statement, originally published in French, noted that the amendment adds 15 new articles and revises 18 existing ones.
Key Changes in the New Constitutional Amendment
1. Presidential Term Extended to Seven Years
One of the most notable reforms appears in the revised Article 42. It now states that:
The President will be elected through direct universal suffrage
The term is seven years, renewable once
No individual can serve more than two terms in their lifetime
This means a president can only serve a maximum of 14 years.
2. Introduction of a Bicameral Parliament
The updated Article 79 officially creates a two-chamber legislature consisting of:
The National Assembly
A newly established Senate
Both bodies will share lawmaking powers and are tasked with monitoring government activities.
The reform also expands the duties of Parliament to include safeguarding democracy, peace, national unity, and public security.
3. Seven-Year Tenure for Lawmakers
Under Article 80, members of the National Assembly will now serve seven-year terms, which can be renewed.
The article also introduces a strict party-loyalty rule:
Any lawmaker who leaves the political party that sponsored them during elections will automatically lose their seat.
4. Role of the Senate Defined
A new Article 113.1 outlines the Senate’s responsibilities, describing it as an institution in charge of regulating political life and protecting national cohesion, development, democracy, and security.
5. Longer Tenure for Local Government Leaders
The reform extends the tenure of:
Mayors
Municipal councillors
Their terms will now also last seven years, renewable.
The constitutional review marks one of the most sweeping political reforms in Benin since 1990, signalling a significant restructuring of the country’s governance system.
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