Benin

Voting in the 2001 presidential elections was close and went to two rounds; after complaining of fraud, Soglo pulled out, allowing the presidency to remain in the hands of Kérékou. The March 2003 parliamentary elections were won by the Presidential Movement (an alliance of the Union for the Benin of the Future, the African Movement for Development and Progress, the Key Force, and other smaller parties), which won 52 of the 83 seats available. Kérékou was unable to stand in the 2006 presidential election, constitutionally barred because of his age (72 years). The election was won by former banker Yayi Boni, who stood as an independent and won more than 35 per cent in the first round of voting and more than 74 per cent in the run-off against the challenger Adrien Houngbédji. Boni was sworn in in April 2006.