In Benin, the National Autonomous Electoral Commission (CENA) has published the list of the five parties authorized to take part in the legislative elections of January 11, 2026. Unsurprisingly, the list includes the political formations of the presidential movement, namely the Republican Bloc (BR), the Progressive Union-The Renewal (UP-R), the Movement of Elites Committed to the Emancipation of Benin (Moele-Benin), but also the opposition party The Democrats, and the Cauri Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE).

The movement is the favorite

The Cena will issue them a final receipt, which confirms the final validation of their application files.

The leadership of these parties will now be working to develop political strategies capable of ensuring their victory at the polls on the evening of January 11.

The parties in the movement that have signed coalition agreements are the favorites on paper, since they do not necessarily need to obtain 20% of the votes cast in all electoral districts to be eligible for the sharing of seats in parliament.

If each candidate manages to secure 10% of the national vote, they are in the clear. The CENI (National Independent Electoral Commission) will simply have to add up the percentages.

Democrats face a difficult, but not impossible, mission

The Democrats party, which refused to sign parliamentary coalition agreements, will need to secure 20% of the votes cast in each electoral district. A difficult task, but not impossible for Boni Yayi's party. Moreover, a resounding victory for this political group on the evening of January 11, 2026, would shake many assumptions within the ruling coalition.