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More than six and a half million voters were called to the polls this Sunday for the legislative elections in Benin, the first ballot open to the opposition since the election in 2016 of President Patrice Talon.
With our special correspondent in Cotonou, Magali Lagrange
Four years after legislative elections boycotted by the opposition, in which only two parties from the presidential movement took part, seven parties – including three from the opposition – were in the running this Sunday to win the 109 deputy seats to be filled. But in the polling stations of Cotonou, whether in Cadjèhoun, Gbegamey or Fifadji, the crowds were not very strong.
In another voting center near the airport where RFI was able to go, voters arrived in dribs and drabs. During a first progress report, the electoral platform of civil society organizations, which deployed more than 700 observers on the ground, had indicated that the crowd was indeed low in the middle of the morning. However, an improvement was observed in the afternoon. “ People have lost the habit to vote, commented one voter, referring to the drop in voter turnout in the last election.
A quiet vote
Polling stations closed at 4 p.m., nine hours after opening. Counting began immediately after the closing. In polling station number 4 of the primary school of Cadjèhoun, it went well in the presence of representatives of political parties and voters who came to attend outside the office through the open door to ” secure their vote “, according to their words. In this office, only a quarter of those registered went to the polls today.
The last legislative elections of 2019, boycotted by some of the registered voters due to the non-participation of the opposition, were marked by strong abstention, contrary to the electoral tradition in Benin, a country previously cited as a model of democracy on the continent. The ballot was followed by violent clashes in several towns. This time, the day passed peacefully.
2019, I did not vote. 2020 too, I didn’t vote. 2021 is the same too. So it’s a relief to have voted today. I think we are very happy that this election is inclusive.
Speeches by voters leaving the polling stations
Weak mobilization also in Ouidah, reports our special correspondent Jean-Luc Aplogan, where polling stations were late in opening. Daniel Quenum voted in Ouidah in the morning, he is surprised: “ I expected to see more people, more crowds. »
There is no figure available yet on the participation, neither of the Cena, nor of national and foreign observers. No major incidents reported. Ouidah voted calmly. Daniel Quenum appreciates: “ In 2019, there was a bit of a stir, which discredited democracy, but today everything is back to normal, democracy is running smoothly. People rub shoulders and you don’t even feel if there is adversity as in the past. »
Unofficial figures circulate on the results of the vote of Ouidah, it is necessary to await those of the Cena which promises the official tendencies between Wednesday and Thursday.