Benin: “The Senate is an institution for political appeasement,” says Patrice Talon

The first ordinary session of Benin’s Senate opened on October 28, 2026, at the Sofitel Dome in Cotonou, presided over by Patrice Talon. In his inaugural address, Talon described the Senate as an institution intended to ease political tensions. The 21-day session will examine matters submitted to senators and begin work on legislative priorities. Elected Senate president on August 6 with 24 votes and one abstention, Talon will lead the institution for five years; established through the November 2025 constitutional revision, it has 25 senators.