Benin Decide The office of the President of Benin -Chief of State: President Thomas Boni YAYI (since 6 April 2006)

More Info:

On our information package - Benin: Presidential Election, 6 March 2016
At stake in this election:

• The office of the President of Benin

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Thomas Boni YAYI (since 6 April 2006)
• Head of Government: President Thomas Boni YAYI (since 6 April 2006)
• Assembly: Benin has a unicameral National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) with 83 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term, with eligibility for a second term.

Last Election:

• Benin’s last Presidential election was held on 13 March 2011. Incumbent Thomas Boni YAYI was re-elected, defeating Adrien HOUNGBEDJI of the opposition Democratic Renewal Party (PRD). YAYI received 53.1% of the vote, while HOUNGBEDJI took 35.6%.

Main candidates in the election:

• Lionel ZINSOU
  • Party: Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE)/Forces Couris pour un Benin Emergent [1]  
• Sebastien AJAVON
  • Party: Independent
• Patrice TALON
  • Party: N/A
• Abdoulaye BIO-TCHANE
  • Party: N/A

Population and number of registered voters:
·         Population: 10,448,647
·         Registered Voters: 4,470,000
Gender Data:
·         Female Population: 5,201,348
·         Is Benin a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (11 November 1981)
·         Has Benin ratified CEDAW: Yes (12 March 1992)
·         Gender Quota: No
·         Female candidates in this election: Yes
·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 7/83 (8%)
·         Human Development Index Position: 166
·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: High
Disability Data:
·         Is Benin a signatory to CRPD: Yes (8 February 2008)
·         Has Benin ratified CRPD: Yes (5 July 2012)
·      Population with a disability: Approximately 840,000