While voices from the camp of Me Adrien Houngbédji are calling for the PRD to leave the UPR, Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji, the government spokesperson, reminds us of the already established legal position: the PRD, like the UP, ceased to exist after their merger into the Union Progressiste le Renouveau (UPR).
For a few days now, the Beninese political scene has been marked by internal turmoil within the Union Progressiste le Renouveau. This party was formed through the merger of two political entities, namely the Union Progressiste (UP) and the Parti du Renouveau Démocratique (PRD).
The UPR is currently facing criticism from figures close to Me Adrien Houngbédji, who feel marginalized in the new political setup. Several of them are now advocating for a revival of the PRD.
In response to this pressure, the government spokesperson sought to clarify the legal status of this political entity that once had its time of glory. Asked about the subject, Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji referred to a decision by the Constitutional Court which, according to him, “observed and sanctioned the merger of the two parties, UP and PRD, which resulted in the UPR.”
“The merged parties disappear for at least 15 years”
This court decision, he recalled, leads to the legal disappearance of the founding parties for a minimum of 15 years. “During this period, no entity can claim the former attributes, logos, or names,” he specified.
However, the right to dissent remains open. “If tomorrow, actors decide to leave this party and create another one, it’s their free choice […]. But they will go on to create a different party, certainly not one with the same name,” noted Wilfried Léandre Houngbédji.
In other words, the creation of a new party is legally possible, but a straightforward return of the PRD as it was known is excluded under the current legal framework.
Beyond the legal aspect, the government spokesperson suggests that the current crisis is related to an “upcoming positioning issue,” connected to upcoming electoral deadlines. Despite the tensions, he remains optimistic: “These are major and experienced political actors. They will know how to find solutions at one time or another to move forward.”