Benin Republic Approves 7-Year Presidential Term ahead of upcoming elections

Benin has just passed a major constitutional overhaul, and the political landscape is about to look very different. In a decisive 90–19 vote, lawmakers approved amendments that stretch the presidential term from five to seven years, with a strict cap of two terms for life.

The reforms go beyond the presidency. Benin is moving from a single-chamber system to a bicameral parliament, adding a brand-new Senate alongside the National Assembly. Both chambers will now share lawmaking and oversight powers.

Legislators aren’t left out of the shake-up either. Deputies will now serve seven-year renewable terms, but there’s a catch—anyone who leaves the party that sponsored them automatically loses their seat.

Local governance is also getting a reset, with mayors and councillors now serving seven-year terms too.

Overall, it’s one of the biggest political restructurings Benin has seen in years, setting the stage for a slower but more tightly regulated leadership cycle.

Benin has just passed a major constitutional overhaul, and the political landscape is about to look very different. In a decisive 90–19 vote, lawmakers approved amendments that stretch the presidential term from five to seven years, with a strict cap of two terms for life.

The reforms go beyond the presidency. Benin is moving from a single-chamber system to a bicameral parliament, adding a brand-new Senate alongside the National Assembly. Both chambers will now share lawmaking and oversight powers.

Legislators aren’t left out of the shake-up either. Deputies will now serve seven-year renewable terms, but there’s a catch—anyone who leaves the party that sponsored them automatically loses their seat.

Local governance is also getting a reset, with mayors and councillors now serving seven-year terms too.

Overall, it’s one of the biggest political restructurings Benin has seen in years, setting the stage for a slower but more tightly regulated leadership cycle.