Benin’s political landscape is taking shape ahead of the 2026 presidential race, as Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni was officially declared the ruling party’s candidate at a grand ceremony in Parakou over the weekend.

The 49-year-old, widely seen as President Patrice Talon’s preferred successor, was unveiled alongside his running mate, Vice President Mariam Chabi Talata. The event drew massive crowds, signaling the start of what is expected to be a heated campaign season.

Party leaders described Wadagni as a symbol of “continuity and transformation,” while the candidate himself pledged to focus his agenda on youth empowerment and sustaining Talon’s economic reforms.

The choice of Parakou—a key political hub in northern Benin—reflects the ruling coalition’s strategy to broaden its appeal across the country as the countdown to the 2026 polls intensifies.