Bénin Profil Gouvernement

nom: Porto-Novo (constitutional capital); Cotonou (seat of government)

coordonnées géographiques: 6 29 N, 2 37 E

différence de temps: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

1 Aoüt 1960 (from France)

Jour De l'Indépendance, 1 Aoüt (1960)

history: previous 1946, 1958 (preindependence); latest adopted by referendum 2 Decembre 1990, promulgated 11 Decembre 1990

amendments: proposed concurrently by the president of the republic (after a decision in the Council of Ministers) and the National Assembly; consideration of drafts or proposals requires at least three-fourths majority vote of the Assembly membership; passage requires approval in a referendum unless approved by at least four-fifths majority vote of the Assembly membership; constitutional articles affecting territorial sovereignty, the republican form of government, and secularity of Benin cannot be amended (2017)

18 ans; universal

chef d'état (Président): Président Patrice TALON (depuis 6 April 2016); note - the president is both chef d'état (Président) and chef de gouvernement (1er ministre)

chef de gouvernement (1er ministre): Président Patrice TALON (depuis 6 April 2016); prime minister position abolished

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 6 March and 20 March 2016 (next to be held in 2021)

election results: Patrice TALON elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Lionel ZINSOU (FCBE) 28.4%, Patrice TALON (independent) 24.8%, Sebastien AJAVON (independent) 23.%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE (ABT) 8.8%, Pascal KOUPAKI (NC) 5.9%, other 9.1%; percent of vote in second round - Patrice TALON 65.4%, Lionel ZINSOU 34.6%