Conventional long form: Republic of Benin
Conventional short form: Benin
Local long form: Republique du Benin
Local short form: Benin
Former: Dahomey
Etymology: named for the Bight of Benin, the body of water on which the country lies
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Benin
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Chief of state: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Patrice TALON (since 6 April 2016); prime minister position abolished
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections:
Election results: Patrice TALON elected president; percent of vote (first round) - Lionel ZINSOU (FCBE) 28.4%, Patrice TALON (independent) 24.8%, Sebastien AJAVON (independent) 23.0%, Abdoulaye Bio TCHANE (ABT) 8.8%, Pascal KOUPAKI (NC) 5.9%, other 9.1%; percent of vote (second round)- Patrice TALON 65.4%, Lionel ZINSOU 34.6%
Description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 26 April 2015 (next to be held in April 2019)
Election results: percent of vote by party - FCBE 30.2%, UN 14.4%, PRD 10.6%, AND 7.6%, RB-RP 7.1%, other 30.1%; seats by party - FCBE 33, UN 13, PRD 10, AND 5, RB-RP 7, other 15
Highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of the court president and 3 chamber presidents organized into an administrative division, judicial chamber, and chamber of accounts); Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 7 members including the court president); High Court of Justice (consists of the Constitutional Court members, 6 members appointed by the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court president); note - jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice is limited to cases of high treason by the national president or members of the government while in office
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; district courts; village courts; Assize courts
Lyrics:
Note: adopted 1960
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