Benin – 2026 Budget: Basile Ahossi expresses reservations despite praise from the ruling movement
While several MPs from the majority praised the progress contained in the State budget for fiscal year 2026, Hon. Léon Basile Ahossi, second vice-president of the National Assembly, takes a more measured position.
He is cautious in his assessment, believing that the praise expressed around the Finance Act is excessive.
For the lawmaker, this budget is above all transitional. He notes that the country will enter a phase of institutional change after the 2026 presidential election, which he says should lead the new President of the Republic to introduce a supplementary Finance Act. This prospect, in his view, limits the scope of the positive assessments voiced by the majority.
Basile Ahossi stresses that challenges remain significant, notably in ensuring the satisfaction and well-being of the population. He cites, for example, the situation in primary and secondary education, pointing out that the quality of infrastructure remains inadequate despite announcements of improvement.
He did, however, praise the intervention of his colleague Aké Natondé, saying that the points highlighted in his speech could usefully contribute to drafting the next State of the Nation address.