Patrice Talon at the head of the Senate: what will his relationships be like with Romuald Wadagni?

After ten years at the helm of the state, Patrice Talon now holds the presidency of the Senate. He was elected to this position on August 6, 2026, during the establishment of the bureau of the upper chamber. Louis Vlavonou has been appointed vice-president.

At the presidency of the Republic, Romuald Wadagni now exercises the prerogatives of the head of state. The Senate’s internal regulations set several rules governing the relationships between the two institutions.

According to Article 53, Romuald Wadagni must be informed of the agenda for the Senate sessions before their opening. He must also be informed of any changes to that agenda during the session. The regulations stipulate that the head of state remains informed about the activities of the upper chamber.

The bills transmitted to the two presidents

Article 54 states that bills are transmitted by the Government “simultaneously” to the president of the National Assembly and the president of the Senate.

Patrice Talon will thus be the direct recipient of the bills transmitted to the Senate as per the procedure outlined by the Constitution.

The Senate can request a second deliberation

The relationships between the two presidents are also evident in the procedure for examining laws.

When a law is voted on in the first reading by the National Assembly and the president of the Republic does not request a second reading, he submits it to the president of the Senate within ten days of receiving it. In cases of urgency, this period is reduced to four days.

The president of the Senate must then notify the response of the upper chamber. If the Senate requests a second deliberation, the president of the Republic “suspends the promulgation” of the law and informs the president of the National Assembly.

For constitutional laws, electoral laws, or those organizing political party life, the Senate has a period of thirty days to respond. This submission interrupts the promulgation deadline.

Wadagni can refer to the Senate

The regulations also provide for another procedure. According to Article 56, the president of the Republic can refer a law voted in the second deliberation by the National Assembly to the Senate when his requests have not been taken into account.

When the challenge does not concern the general direction of the law, the referral letter must specify “expressly the contested provisions” as well as the redactions proposed to the National Assembly.

This referral “interrupts the promulgation deadline”.

The role of the head of state in the implementation of Senate decisions

Article 57 addresses the Senate’s decisions regarding the regulation of political life.

It provides that the president of the Republic “takes all measures within his prerogatives” to ensure their application.

The internal regulations thus establish a precise framework for exchanges between the presidency of the Republic and the presidency of the Senate.

With Romuald Wadagni at the head of the state and Patrice Talon at the head of the Senate, the two institutions now have distinct roles, the relationships of which are governed by the Constitution and the internal regulations of the upper chamber.