- Title: DAHOMEY: THREE OF THE CANDIDATES FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
- Date: 22nd April 1968
- Summary: THREE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES. Initials RM/VS/BOB/SC Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 7th May 1968 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: COTONOU, DAHOMEY
- Country: Benin
- Reuters ID: LVA7A5WNETURV15R1198TMZ987OK
- Story Text: THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT OF DAHOMEY HAS REFUSED TO RECONSIDER ITS DECISION TO EXCLUDE FORMER POLITICAL LEADERS FROM NEXT MONTH'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN COTONOU, DESPITE A SUPREME COURT RULING THAT THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THE GOVERNMENT SAYS FORMER POLITICIANS ARE BEING BARRED FROM THE ELECTIONS TO "SAFEGUARD PUBLIC ORDER".
THE PEOPLE OF DAHOMEY APPROVED A NEW CONSTITUTION LAST MONTH LEADING THE COUNTRY BACK TO CIVILIAN RULE AND SETTING UP A ONE-PARTY SYSTEM FOR FIVE YEARS. THE CONSTITUTION WILL COME INTO EFFECT AFTER A NEW GOVERNMENT IS FORMED. MEANWHILE, THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT - WHICH CAME TO POWER AFTER AN ARMY COUP IN DECEMBER - WANTS TO ENTRUST THE PRESIDENCY TO A NEW MAN "UNMARKED" BY DAHOMEY POLITICS.
SO FAR, THE CANDIDATES INCLUDE THE OWNER OF A BIG PRINTING WORKS IN DAHOMEY, M. URBAIN DA SILVA, WHO IS ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF DAHOMEY INDUSTRIALISTS AND BUSINESSMEN; A COMPANY DIRECTOR. M. JEAN-BAPTISE VIEIRIN; AND A SCHOOL INSPECTOR - M. EUSTACHE, PRUDENCIO WHO ARE SEEN ON THIS FILM. THERE ARE ALSO ANOTHER TWO CANDIDATES.
THE MILITARY COUP WHICH BROUGHT LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ALPHONSE ALLEY HASSAID TO POWER IN DAHOMEY FOLLOWED AN ECONOMIC CRISIS INCLUDING A SERIES OF STRIKES BY WORKERS COMPLAINING AT THE CUTS OF UP TO 25 PER CENT IN THEIR WAGES. DAHOMEY, A FRENCH TERRITORY SINCE 1904, BECAME INDEPENDENT IN AUGUST 1960. IT HAS A POPULATION OF 2,500 PEOPLE.
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