Political realignment ahead of 2026: BR and FCBE initiate a strategic rapprochement
As the 2026 general elections approach, Benin’s political landscape continues to shift. On Monday, September 8, Cotonou hosted a high-level political meeting between the Bloc Républicain (BR) and the Force Cauris pour un Bénin Émergent (FCBE).
The president of the BR, Abdoulaye Bio Tchané, met with his FCBE counterpart, in the presence of the leadership bodies of both parties. On the agenda: the foundations of a possible political alliance.
Speaking after the meeting, the honorary president of the FCBE, Alassane Soumanou Djimba, emphasized that this initiative was part of an electoral context marked by increasing legal constraints.
“The electoral code sets strict conditions. After analysis, it seemed difficult, if not impossible, for a single party to meet the requirements, particularly the 10% at the national level and the 20% per constituency,” he explained. In this context, coalitions appear as a strategic necessity.
On the BR side, openness to dialogue is fully embraced. Joseph Amavi Anani, the party’s vice president, reaffirmed this stance. “The Bloc Républicain remains committed to inter-party consultation, regardless of political leanings. Being in opposition doesn’t mean opposing systematically; it means proposing, building, and enriching the debate,” he said.
According to him, the ongoing discussions could lead to the signing of two distinct agreements: the first, parliamentary in nature, designed to meet the required electoral thresholds in the constituencies; the second, broader, concerning a governance platform that includes the issue of endorsements.
This meeting comes just a few days after an initial contact between the FCBE and the Union Progressiste le Renouveau (UPR) on Friday, September 5. A rapprochement now being formalized, which would also aim to cover the two major upcoming ballots: the legislative elections in January and the presidential election in April 2026.
For many analysts, these moves clearly reflect the FCBE’s desire for strategic repositioning, illustrated in recent months by notable public statements from some of its senior figures, such as the mayor of Bembéréké, Yaya Garba, and former MP Idrissou Bako.
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