The Beninese authorities recently adopted a revision of the Constitution which significantly alters the length of the presidential term, increasing it from five to seven years .

This new provision is part of a larger set of constitutional reforms approved by members of parliament on the night of Friday, November 14 to Saturday, November 15, 2025. The text was adopted with a large majority of 90 votes for and 19 against .

Initially convened to decide on the establishment of a second parliamentary chamber, the elected officials ultimately approved changes affecting:

1. The term of office for the President of the Republic, members of parliament, and local elected officials : the duration is increased to seven years , compared to five previously.
2. Term limits : the text maintains the principle that a president cannot serve more than two terms "during his lifetime" .
3. The creation of the Senate : this new institution, presented as a "council of wise men," will have between 25 and 30 members. Some will sit on it ex officio, notably former presidents of the Republic and heads of institutions.
4. Party loyalty : any MP elected under the banner of a party who resigns from that party would automatically lose their mandate .

These major changes come just six months before the presidential election. This election, which will see only two candidates in the running — Romuald Wadagni for the presidential movement and Paul Hounkpé representing the Forces Cauris for an Emerging Benin (FCBE) — could therefore see its winner serve a longer term than initially planned.

Before entering into force, the adopted text must still receive the conformity review of the Constitutional Court and then be promulgated by President Patrice Talon .