Benin's Cowrie Forces won parliamentary election

The Cowrie Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE), an alliance of parties and movements in Benin that supports the government of President Thomas Boni Yayi, won the country's parliamentary election, securing 33 of the 83 seats of the National Assembly, according to final results announced Sunday evening by the Constitutional Court.

However, the ruling alliance of Boni Yayi lost 8 seats from its hold of 41 seats in the previous parliament. This is believed to weaken Boni Yayi's ability to drive forth the constitutional changes that he has pledged.

The FCBE alliance is followed by Unite the Nation (UN, 13 seats) , the Democratic Renewal Party (PRD, 10 seats), the Alliance of the Benin Renaissance and Revival Party (RB-PR, 7 seats) and many other parties, said Theodore Holo, president of the Constitutional Court.

The election was held on April 26.