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| - Benin's opposition on Tuesday warned a United Nations envoy that conditions imposed by President Patrice Talon's government would undermine the credibility of April's presidential election. Many Benin opposition figures are in exile or barred from running in the election, with critics saying the West African state long seen as a model of democracy has veered into authoritarianism under Talon. The opposition says the election is already fixed in favour of the incumbent, especially after an electoral law reform requiring each candidate to be formally sponsored by 16 mayors or members of parliament. Opposition leaders met with visiting UN special representative for West Africa and the Sahel region, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, who is also expected to meet with Talon. "We explained to him that the obstacles put in place by the regime of Patrice Talon are unlikely to promote a transparent, credible inclusive election," Benin opposition leader Eric Houndete told AFP after the meeting. "Patrice Talon cannot select his competitors. The election must be open." Houndete is chairman of the Democrats opposition party whose candidate Reckya Madougou is one of 20 including Talon who have registered to run the presidential race. Talon's backers have rejected accusations the election will be fixed, saying all the conditions are there for a fair vote. Houndete said the opposition wants Talon to open up dialogue over the election. Chambas was staying in the commercial capital Cotonou to hold meetings on Wednesday with Talon. When he was first elected in 2016 on a modernising platform and a promise to stamp out corruption and mismanagement, cotton baron Talon said he intended to serve only one term. But opposition parties accuse Talon of leading a country once praised for multi-party democracy down an authoritarian road and say he is behind a crackdown that drove key rivals into exile. During parliamentary elections in 2019, no opposition parties were allowed to present lists of candidates for the vote. A year later, only six opposition challengers to sitting mayors won in municipal elections that were boycotted by some opponents. Part of the divided opposition has since founded a coalition, the Front for the Restoration of Democracy, to join forces against Talon, uniting behind one candidate. str-pma/mjs
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