Benin PM leads in first round of presidential election

COTONOU, Benin

Benin’s National Electoral Commission (CENA) announced Tuesday that Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou and independent candidate Patrice Talon topped the first round of voting in the presidential election.

Voting was held Sunday in the West African state where 33 candidates are vying for the presidency.

According to CENA first-round results, Zinsou took 28.4 percent while Talon got 24.8 percent. Voter turnout was 64 percent. The results have to be validated by the constitutional court before they are considered final.

A second round will be held on March 20, CENA said.

Zinsou, 61, a Franco-Beninese economist who was born and worked in France became prime minister of Benin in June 2015.

Incumbent president, Thomas Boni Yayi, is constitutionally barred from running as he has served two five-year mandates.

The first democratic elections in the West African state took place in 1991.

Benin gained independence from France in 1960.