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POLITICS-BENIN
A President Tempted to Outstay His Welcome?
By Michée Boko
COTONOU, Jan 12, 2006 (IPS) - Politicians and civil society groups in Benin have launched a scathing attack on President Mathieu Kérékou for his failure to disburse the balance of funds pledged to the Independent National Electoral Commission, to enable it to organise presidential elections scheduled for March.
In his traditional year-end speech delivered before parliament Dec. 30, Kérékou said his refusal to unblock the funds was intended to prevent members of the commission (Commission électorale nationale autonome - CENA) from misappropriating the money "to go and buy property where they can build villas."
While rumours of impropriety have on occasion surrounded commissioners, none has ever been found guilty of fraud, and Kérékou's actions are being viewed more as a ploy to remain in power than promote good governance. This impression is bolstered by the fact that Finance Minister Cosme Sčhlin told parliament on Nov. 10 last year government did not have sufficient funds to hold the presidential poll - which also set the scene for Kérékou remaining in office.
That the president is not eager to relinquish his post was further indicated in 2004, when his supporters made a failed attempt to change the constitution, to allow him to stand for a third term.
In addition to limiting the president to two terms in office, the 1990 constitution stipulates that presidential candidates cannot be more than 70 years old. This clause would also prohibit Kérékou, 73, from contesting the March poll.
"Président Kérékou must realise that he is a Beninese citizen like everyone else, and that he must hand over power on the 7th of April," said Guillaume Attingbé, secretary-general of an umbrella body for trade unions - a number of which were at the forefront of challenging the claim that Benin was too poor to elect a new head of state.
Similar statements were heard in one press conference after another after the president's Dec. 30 bombshell.
"We are warning President Kérékou and his government against the delaying tactics that they are using to prevent elections from being held as scheduled - and we are holding them responsible for what comes of this," said Reckya Madougou, president of a non-governmental organisation (NGO) called Elan, which lobbied against efforts to change the constitution two years ago.
Added the head of Transparency International in Benin, Adrien Ahanhanzo-Glčlč: "The head of state...is humiliating the Beninese people by daring to tell us that in the ten years he has been in power, he has not been able to budget for the elections." (Transparency International is a Berlin-based NGO that fights against corruption.)
In response to the funding freeze, civil society groups plan to hold peaceful protests in the days and weeks to come. They have also started collecting money that will be used to assist CENA in its election preparations should the government continue to plead poverty.
If a new president is not elected in March, says political observer and academic Roger Gbégnonvi, then Kérékou is constitutionally obliged to hand over power to the head of the national assembly - Kolawolé Idji - who will then be in charge of organising a poll.
By refusing to step down, adds Gbégnonvi, Kérékou might find himself facing legal proceedings: "In such a case, President Kérékou could be brought before the high court for perjury and high treason. Parliament only has to vote accordingly for this to take place."
Last week, 13 political parties joined forces with civic organisations to demand that the funds owed to CENA be disbursed. The fact that this group included a number of parties supportive of Kérékou - such as the Social Democratic Party, and the Alliance for Democracy and Progress - is being taken as a hopeful sign by some.
"This is proof that all is not lost, and that the Beninese are still capable of acting patriotically," said Jonas Zinsou, a teacher based in the economic capital of Cotonou.
CENA's budget for the March poll, initially set at about 380,000 dollars, had been whittled down to some 200,000 dollars when Kérékou made his speech. Last week, the organisation received 8,000 dollars from government.
A former head of CENA, Charles Djrčkpo, has expressed the fear that government is attempting to delay preparations for the March election, until it is no longer possible.
But, such concerns have yet to elicit a response from regional and continental bodies such as the Economic Community for West African States and the African Union - scheduled to hold its annual summit later this month in Sudan. "They could have done so (commented on events in Benin), if they really wanted to," says Gbégnonvi.
If all else fails, observes unionist Cyriaque Adoukonou, those opposed to seeing Kérékou remain in power after March will have to reprise the strategies that forced his hand during an earlier term in office.
The president previously governed Benin for almost two decades from 1972, when he seized power in a military coup. With the country in economic decline towards the end of this period, strikes and riots had become commonplace in Benin - prompting Kérékou to begin moves towards democratic government in 1989. He was subsequently voted out of office (in 1991) - but became president again in a 1996 poll.
"It's unfortunate that Kérékou has to be forced from power every time. If he wishes, we'll revise the events of 1989 for him," said Adoukonou. (END)
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