During a meeting with Beninese youth held on Monday, July 28, 2025, at the Marina Palace, President Patrice Talon addressed the issue of democratic succession. With less than a year left in his second term, the Head of State expressed his disapproval of prolonged stays in power.
“It is not good for the same people to stay in power for too long,”
declared Patrice Talon before an audience of young people from various regions of the country.
This statement, made in a politically tense climate ahead of the general elections in Benin, carries particular weight in a sub-region grappling with controversial presidential transitions.
“It is not good for a country when the same people govern for too long. Eventually, the sense of priorities is lost.”
While President Talon reaffirms his decision to step down at the end of his mandate, neighboring countries are taking a different path. In Côte d’Ivoire, President Alassane Ouattara has recently announced his intention to run for a fourth term—a decision sparking heated debate in Ivorian political circles, with some seeing it as a setback for democratic transition and an admission of failure in preparing a successor.
In Togo, President Faure Gnassingbé—who has been in power since 2005—may also seek a fifth term, following the recent adoption of a new constitution establishing a parliamentary system and reopening the door to successive mandates. A segment of the Togolese opposition views this institutional change as a strategy to hold on to power indefinitely.
In this context, Patrice Talon’s stance stands out. He appears intent on leaving office within the constitutional framework, without attempting to modify the rules to his advantage. He also mentioned his willingness to support whichever candidate he believes is best equipped to continue the reforms he initiated, regardless of political affiliation.
“Even if he insulted me, even if he’s not on my side—if he’s the best for the country, I’ll campaign for him,”
he declared.
Although he ruled out the idea of naming a political “heir,” the President did not exclude the possibility of influencing the choice of his successor by publicly endorsing a candidate. This suggests that he plans to remain a significant political figure even after his term ends.
Source: @Beninwebtv
