Benin: Will the relationship between Wadagni and the Senate be a smooth and peaceful one?

On July 30th, the Senate, a new institution created by the November 2025 constitutional reform, was officially installed during a ceremony held at the National Assembly in Porto-Novo. A week later, the senators met to elect their colleagues to serve on the bureau of this upper house of the Beninese Parliament. Unsurprisingly, former President Patrice Talon was elected to head the institution.

He will be assisted by a Vice-President, Louis Vlavonou, former President of the National Assembly. The position of rapporteur will be held by the former Minister of the Interior, Alassane Seidou.

What will happen if the revised text does not meet the expectations of the head of state?

Since Wednesday, the media have published the Senate's internal regulations. A review of the text reveals that, in legislative matters, "constitutional laws, electoral laws, and laws governing the life of political parties and their activities must be submitted to the Senate for a no-objection opinion before their promulgation." In other words, the Senate is required to give its opinion on these categories of laws.

Given that Parliament and the President of the Republic jointly have the power to initiate legislation, it is possible that Romuald Wadagni might introduce a draft constitutional reform to Parliament.

What will happen if the revised text does not meet the expectations of the head of state?

If this text is passed, it will have to be submitted to the Senate for a no-objection opinion. The institution would be perfectly capable of rejecting it and requesting a second reading.

But if this revised constitutional law does not meet the expectations of the head of state, what will happen?

This is a legitimate question to ask, given that political ambitions are not always aligned. There is no guarantee that President Wadagni and the Senate, headed by Patrice Talon, will always agree on amendments to the fundamental law during a future constitutional revision process.