As the presidential election of April 12th approaches, Paul Hounkpè, the candidate for the Forces Cauris for an Emerging Benin (FCBE) , opted for a low-key approach to mark the end of his campaign. After a nationwide marathon of forty rallies, he chose to rally his supporters in Porto-Novo, at his party headquarters, on April 9th.

A closeness claimed in the face of crises

It was in a stark setting, marked by a power outage, that Paul Hounkpè spoke with a group of supporters. Far from large gatherings, the candidate delivered a scathing indictment of Patrice Talon's ten years in power, pointing the finger at:

1. The explosion of public debt .
2. The lack of political pluralism in Parliament.
3. The fate of political prisoners .

"We are not the same"

Often criticized for a stance deemed too moderate, Paul Hounkpè used this platform to clarify his position. He firmly rejects the label of a "sham" opposition figure.

"I am not bound! We are opposed; our political and ideological options diverge completely from those of the current government."

Advocating for an "urgent de-escalation" and national dialogue, he places education and health at the top of his priorities. His flagship program? Free and compulsory primary education, supported by an improved status for teachers.

He considers the election to be open.

Despite the odds, Paul Hounkpè remains defiant. Convinced that the relentless opposition to his candidacy proves his strength, he insists that "the race is not over." He believes the people's verdict on April 12th could bring a surprise: "We will seize power," he asserts with determination.

Support seems genuine among his followers, like Amina Baba Ibrahim, who is convinced he is the only one capable of reunifying the country "from north to south." After listening to the grievances of the women at the Ouando market, the candidate concluded his day with a symbolic visit to the king of Porto-Novo.