Benin parliament to review key bills including electoral code reforms

The 10th legislature of the Bénin National Assembly convenes for a landmark plenary session this Friday, July 10, 2026, at the Palais des Gouverneurs in Porto-Novo. The agenda features pivotal legislative discussions that will shape the nation’s institutional, electoral, and economic trajectory.

Legislative priorities: institutional reforms and public financing

This critical session will scrutinize several high-stakes bills, including reforms to national orders legislation and the organic law governing the Bénin Economic and Social Council—a body whose statutes were last revised in March 2026. Additionally, lawmakers will deliberate on the ratification of a credit agreement signed in June 2025 with the French Development Agency (AFD), a move aimed at financing the long-awaited Contemporary Art Museum project in Cotonou.

Electoral code revision: a national debate

The most consequential discussion centers on a proposed amendment to abolish Title II of Book I of the Electoral Code, as amended in 2024. This legislative overhaul has sparked intense discussions about its potential impact on the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) and the broader electoral process. Observers anticipate robust exchanges as deputies assess the implications for democratic governance.

Key legislative texts under review

• Modification of Article 94 of the July 26, 2024 law establishing national orders in Bénin.
• Revised organic law for the Economic and Social Council (already updated in March 2026).
• Ratification of the AFD credit convention for the Contemporary Art Museum project.
• Proposal to repeal Title II of Book I of the 2024 Electoral Code.