As Benin gears up for its 2026 general elections, the Cauris Force for an Emerging Benin (FCBE) is signalling a strategic shift after nearly a decade in opposition.
Former MP Idrissou Bako, speaking to Daabaaru TV, revealed that the party led by ex-minister Paul Hounkpè is exploring closer ties with the presidential movement.
“The FCBE is now in a process of repositioning. After nearly ten years of opposition, we have resolved to be part of the movement in 2026, Inch’Allah,” Bako declared.
According to Bako, preliminary discussions could involve key parties aligned with the current administration, namely the Republican Bloc (BR) and the Progressive Union for Renewal (UPR).
The aim is to form alliances that would secure the necessary sponsorship for the upcoming elections.
“If today we feel rapprochements or discussions with BR or UPR, there is nothing more normal,” he added, highlighting recent local political adjustments in Kandi, where several municipal councillors were dismissed.
On the topic of electoral negotiations, Bako remained pragmatic. “If we have to negotiate with the one who is today an adversary to conclude an electoral agreement, we will do it,” he said, while reiterating that the FCBE remains officially an opposition party. “The day we are no longer in the opposition, we will declare it,” he insisted.
Earlier this year, in an interview with Bip Radio on March 16, 2025, Paul Hounkpè approached the subject from a cautious angle. While acknowledging the importance of securing sponsorships for the 2026 election, he ruled out full alignment with the presidential movement.
“We have appealed to the head of state and we will ask to meet him soon,” Hounkpè said, emphasizing that sponsorship negotiations would be selective.
“It is not with the movement, but with a part of the movement,” he clarified, underlining that dialogue with pro-government parties does not equate to abandoning the FCBE’s stance as an opposition force.
With the political landscape shifting and alliances in flux, the FCBE’s manoeuvres may reshape Benin’s opposition dynamics ahead of the critical 2026 polls.
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