Benin – Presidential 2026: a new contender for Talon’s successor announces his candidacy
The ambitions continue to unfold a few months before the 2026 presidential elections in Benin. On Monday, June 30, 2025, Leonidas Hounton officially announced his candidacy for the highest office, marking his entry into the national political scene.
The former secretary-general of the High Council of Beninese Abroad (HCBE) for the South Africa zone, he presents himself as the voice of a generation seeking a break and renewal.
In his statement, Leonidas Hounton emphasized the urgency to reinvent political leadership at the top of the State, highlighting governance based on social justice, national unity, transparency, and equitable development.
“The Beninese people are ready for profound change. They aspire to leaders connected to everyday realities, capable of building an inclusive and prosperous future,” he declared.
This candidacy comes in a context where debates about the succession of President Patrice Talon are intensifying, while many major political figures still remain quiet about their intentions.
Leonidas Hounton’s announcement thus enriches an electoral landscape in gestation, where official candidacies are still rare, despite the approaching deadline.