Four Benin political parties bag state funding worth $2.5m

Four political parties in Benin pocketed Monday close to $2.5 million in form of state funding for political movements having representatives in the legislature or local governments.
Bloc Republicain (BR), Union Progessiste Le Renouveau (UPR), Force Cauris pour le Benin Emergent (FCBE) and Les Democrates (LD) received the fund from the Chairman of National Autonomous Electoral Commission (CENA) Sacca Lafia, Banouto reports.
The funds cover the first two quarters of 2023. The CENA Head however indicated that LD backed form President Yayo Boni is not entitled to financial support for the first quarter because did not have representatives in parliament or any local government during the period.
BR, UPR and LD currently make up Benin’s 109-seat legislature following January elections. BR has 28 seats, UPR 53 seats while LD garnered 28 seats.
Benin’s Constitution has arranged provisions for state grants to political parties to promote their political programs, participation in electoral process, and training of their members as well as citizens on civic and political education.