The president of Benin, Patrice Talon failed in his attempt to reform his country’s constitution.
Reducing the current two five-year presidential term to just one six-year term was among the reforms he was seeking.
A bill to effect these reforms failed to get the needed backing in Benin’s parliament on Tuesday.
Patrice Talon was hoping for the passage of the bill in order for a referendum to be held on the issues. Experts consider this a major blow for him after promising to reduce the term limit last year.
The bill needed 63 votes to pass but only 60 MPs voted for it while 22 voted against it.
Reuters quoted a lawmaker Orou Kate telling parliament that “The people don’t want this, the president needs to scrap this bill and go back to consult the population.”
Talon had said that the current term limit encourages “complacency”.
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