The National Assembly of Benin has officially approved a constitutional amendment that extends the presidential term from five to seven years and introduces a bicameral parliament. The amendment was passed during a plenary session held at the Palace of the Governors in Porto-Novo, where 90 deputies voted in favor and 19 against the bill.
The Assembly, in its announcement, stated that the revision to the Constitution of December 11, 1990, required a three-quarters majority during a preliminary vote, which was successfully achieved with 87 votes for and 22 against. The final passage followed a secret ballot.
Key changes include the new Article 42, which specifies that the President of the Republic is elected by direct universal suffrage for a seven-year term, renewable only once. Additionally, the amendment ensures that no individual can serve more than two presidential terms in their lifetime.
The reform also establishes a bicameral legislature, as specified in the updated Article 79, which grants legislative powers and government oversight to both the National Assembly and the new Senate. Article 80 further outlines that deputies will now serve terms of seven years, with a rule that any deputy resigning from their party during legislative elections will automatically forfeit their mandate.
Moreover, the updated Article 113.1 defines the Senate’s role in regulating political life and safeguarding national unity, development, public security, democracy, and peace. The amendments also extend the terms of mayors and municipal councillors to seven years, renewable.
