Date of presidential run-off triggers new tiff

The date for the final run-off round in Benin’s key presidential poll has triggered a new tiff in the problem-fraught poll. After holding an extraordinary cabinet meeting late on Thursday, the government announced the second and final round in the race for the presidency would take place Sunday, 19 March. But the country’s National Electoral Commission (CENA) protested, saying the results of the first 5 March round had been announced only this week and that there was insufficient time left to organise a final round by Sunday. CENA chairman Sylvain Nouwatin called for a postponement of four days until Wednesday 22 March in order to give the two candidates time to campaign. Nouwatin’s appeal was backed by the Constitutional Court which has called on the government to put the election to next week. A statement from the government is said to be forthcoming. Under the constitution, failing an outright victory of more than 50 percent in the first election round, a second round should be held two weeks after the first poll. But provisional results were released only this week, followed by an official proclamation on Wednesday. “Given the delay in announcing the first round results CENA cannot materially organise an election for 19 March,” Nouwatin said on Thursday. The Constitutional Court on Wednesday announced that political newcomer and former banker Boni Yayi, and veteran politician and lawyer Adrien Houngbedji, would face off in the race to become Benin’s next president. Official results showed Yayi led the field of 26 contenders with 35.64 percent of the vote while Houngbedji garnered 24.12 percent. Meanwhile a coalition of non-governmental groups has handed the CENA more than seven billion CFA francs (US $13 million) raised by concerned citizens to ensure the elections would take place. Lack of government funds for the elections had raised concerns that incumbent President Mathieu Kerekou was reluctant to step down. The election brings down the curtain on almost three decades in office for Kerekou. The former military ruler introduced multi-party politics in 1991 and since has held two successive mandates which, along with his age, means that under the constitution he cannot run for office. Yayi, who is 54 and who last month resigned from his job as chairman of the Togo-based West African Development Bank, is an independent running with the support of a coalition of groups and parties. Houngbedji, the 64-year-old leader of the Democratic Renewal Party, is a veteran politician who twice served as speaker of parliament.