Benin: Patrice Talon reacts after his election as President of the Senate

Two months after transferring power to Romuald Wadagni, Patrice Talon has returned to an official role. Gathered this Thursday in Porto-Novo, the senators elected him to lead the upper chamber of Parliament for a five-year term, alongside Louis Vlavonou, who was elected vice-president, and Alassane Seidou, appointed as rapporteur.

In his speech, the former president first thanked his peers for their trust before calling for the Senate to be “a family based on consensus, conviviality, and responsibility.” He praised the atmosphere in which the bureau election took place: “We have all experienced an extraordinary ambiance in recent days that has erased our differences,” he declared.

Patrice Talon then assured that he wants to put his experience at the service of the institution: “I want to reassure you of my availability, even my commitment to work for the proper functioning of a Senate that will feel like a family to us.” He outlined the direction of this new mandate around four priorities: strengthening national unity, political stability, peace, and democracy in Benin.

The new president of the Senate concluded his address with a call for collective vigilance: “I want to count on each of you to remind us to stay in line whenever we fall short.”

This election comes one week after the official installation of the Senate on July 30 and follows the validation of its internal regulations by the Constitutional Court on August 3.