Presidential elections were held in Benin on 5 March 2006. Long-term president Mathieu Kérékou, who had led the country for all but four years since 1972, was barred from running for a third term. The constitution not only stipulated an absolute two-term limit, but required presidents to be 70 years old or younger when taking office; Kérékou had turned 70 in 2003. In July 2005, Kérékou signalled that he would not seek to change the constitution, as has been done in some other African countries, so that he could run again. Kérékou's long-time rival Nicéphore Soglo was also barred from standing due to his age.[1]
Members of the National Autonomous Electoral Commission (CENA) are counting the votes after the second round on 19 March 2006Civil Society members offer their own transportation means to carry and safeguard the transparent ballot boxes from the polling stations to the electoral commission offices.
With the men who had been among the country's leading political figures since the return of democracy barred from running, the campaign had a level of openness and unpredictability not common for African presidential elections. Since no candidate won a majority, a second round was held between the two leading candidates on 19 March; Yayi Boni won the election and took office in April.
A total of 33 candidate applications were registered with the Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA). In a ruling issued on 30 January 2006, the Constitutional Court accepted 26 candidacies, as the candidacies of Daniel Shalom, Vincent Emmanuel Ahounou, and Adébayo Ananie were rejected because they were deemed medically unfit for the presidency, while the candidacies of Lary Egoundoukpè and Alidou Tamama were rejected because they had not paid the deposit of five million CFA francs required of candidates. Another two candidates, Edgar Alias and Yaro Sourakatou, withdrew in favor of Boni prior to the ruling. The approved candidates included three serving members of Kérékou's government: Zul Kifl Salami, Antoine Dayori, and Kamarou Fassassi. Additionally, the Constitutional Court approved the candidacies of two heads of major institutions: those of Antoine Idji Kolawolé, the President of the National Assembly, and Raphiou Toukourou, the President of the Economic and Social Council.[2]
Resultsedit
In the first round, held on 5 March, Boni, former chairman of the West African Development Bank, placed first with around 35% of the vote, and former President of the National AssemblyAdrien Houngbédji of the Democratic Renewal Party placed second with around 24% of the vote. In third place was the Social Democratic Party's candidate Bruno Amoussou, a former speaker of parliament and planning minister who obtained around 16% of the vote, and in fourth place was Benin Renaissance candidate Lehady Soglo, son of former president Nicéphore Soglo, with around 8% of the vote. Boni was an independent candidate, and this was his first election; Houngbédji and Amoussou had both run for president three previous times.[3][4]
Shortly after results were announced in mid-March, the government set the date for the second round between Boni and Houngbédji for 19 March. The country's election commission asked for more time, but this was refused. Boni was backed for the second round by both Amoussou and Soglo.[5] He won the second round with almost 75% of the vote[3] and was sworn in on 6 April.[6]
Commission Electoral Nationale Autonome (in French)
April 14, 2024
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Presidential elections were held in Benin on 5 March 2006 Long term president Mathieu Kerekou who had led the country for all but four years since 1972 was barred from running for a third term The constitution not only stipulated an absolute two term limit but required presidents to be 70 years old or younger when taking office Kerekou had turned 70 in 2003 In July 2005 Kerekou signalled that he would not seek to change the constitution as has been done in some other African countries so that he could run again Kerekou s long time rival Nicephore Soglo was also barred from standing due to his age 1 2006 Beninese presidential election 2001 5 March 2006 first round 19 March 2006 second round 2011 Turnout81 40 first round 69 47 second round Nominee Yayi Boni Adrien HoungbedjiParty Independent PRDPopular vote 1 979 305 673 937Percentage 74 60 25 40 President before electionMathieu KerekouFARD Alafia Elected President Yayi BoniIndependentMembers of the National Autonomous Electoral Commission CENA are counting the votes after the second round on 19 March 2006Civil Society members offer their own transportation means to carry and safeguard the transparent ballot boxes from the polling stations to the electoral commission offices With the men who had been among the country s leading political figures since the return of democracy barred from running the campaign had a level of openness and unpredictability not common for African presidential elections Since no candidate won a majority a second round was held between the two leading candidates on 19 March Yayi Boni won the election and took office in April Contents 1 Candidates 2 Results 3 References 4 External linksCandidates editA total of 33 candidate applications were registered with the Autonomous National Electoral Commission CENA In a ruling issued on 30 January 2006 the Constitutional Court accepted 26 candidacies as the candidacies of Daniel Shalom Vincent Emmanuel Ahounou and Adebayo Ananie were rejected because they were deemed medically unfit for the presidency while the candidacies of Lary Egoundoukpe and Alidou Tamama were rejected because they had not paid the deposit of five million CFA francs required of candidates Another two candidates Edgar Alias and Yaro Sourakatou withdrew in favor of Boni prior to the ruling The approved candidates included three serving members of Kerekou s government Zul Kifl Salami Antoine Dayori and Kamarou Fassassi Additionally the Constitutional Court approved the candidacies of two heads of major institutions those of Antoine Idji Kolawole the President of the National Assembly and Raphiou Toukourou the President of the Economic and Social Council 2 Results editIn the first round held on 5 March Boni former chairman of the West African Development Bank placed first with around 35 of the vote and former President of the National Assembly Adrien Houngbedji of the Democratic Renewal Party placed second with around 24 of the vote In third place was the Social Democratic Party s candidate Bruno Amoussou a former speaker of parliament and planning minister who obtained around 16 of the vote and in fourth place was Benin Renaissance candidate Lehady Soglo son of former president Nicephore Soglo with around 8 of the vote Boni was an independent candidate and this was his first election Houngbedji and Amoussou had both run for president three previous times 3 4 Shortly after results were announced in mid March the government set the date for the second round between Boni and Houngbedji for 19 March The country s election commission asked for more time but this was refused Boni was backed for the second round by both Amoussou and Soglo 5 He won the second round with almost 75 of the vote 3 and was sworn in on 6 April 6 CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond roundVotes Votes Yayi BoniIndependent1 074 30835 781 979 30574 60Adrien HoungbedjiDemocratic Renewal Party727 23924 22673 93725 40Bruno AmoussouSocial Democratic Party489 12216 29Lehady SogloBenin Rebirth Party253 4788 44Antoine Kolawole IdjiAfrican Movement for Development and Progress97 5953 25Lazare SehouetoMovement for the People s Alternative61 1952 04Severin AdjoviLiberal Democrats Rally for National Reconstruction Vivoten53 3041 78Antoine DayoriHope Force37 4361 25Kamarou FassassiAwakening Party of Democrats of the New Generation29 4940 98Janvier YahouedehouIndependent23 0540 77Luc GnacadjaEnvol Movement20 2690 68Daniel TawemaAction Front for Renewal and Development18 1250 60Ibrahima IdrissouRally for National Unity and Democracy18 1060 60Richard SenouIndependent15 6720 52Soule DankoroDemocratic Party9 9290 33Marie Elise GbedoIndependent9 8150 33Celestine ZanouIndependent9 4740 32Lionel AgboAfrican Congress of Democrats9 0260 30Zul Kifl SalamiIndependent8 5380 28Richard AdjahoIndependent7 4480 25Gatien HoungbedjiDemocratic Union for Economic and Social Development6 5440 22Adolphe Djimon HodonouIndependent6 5120 22Galiou SogloIndependent5 2430 17Leandre DjagoueRally of Liberal Democrats Heviosso4 6650 16Marcel GbaguidiIndependent3 4790 12Raphiou ToukourouIndependent3 4190 11Total3 002 489100 002 653 242100 00Valid votes3 002 48994 142 653 24297 45Invalid blank votes186 7775 8669 5642 55Total votes3 189 266100 002 722 806100 00Registered voters turnout3 917 86581 403 919 55069 47Source African Elections DatabaseReferences edit Kerekou says will retire next year will not change constitution to stay in power IRIN 12 July 2005 La Cour constitutionnelle retient 26 candidatures Archived March 20 2008 at the Wayback Machine Panapress 30 January 2006 in French a b Elections in Benin African Elections Database Profiles of front runners in presidential race IRIN 3 March 2006 Rejecting appeal government sets poll for 19 March IRIN 18 March 2006 Virgile Ahissou Celebrations in Benin as Boni takes office dead link Associated Press 7 April 2006External links editAchieving Transformational Democracy in Africa Benin strikes again USAID Commission Electoral Nationale Autonome in French Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2006 Beninese presidential election amp oldid 1123105215, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
