CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE __________________________________________________________________________ 158. The Constitutional Court is responsible for the control of electoral disputes during presidential and legislative elections. It ruled on 18 cases for the presidential election in 1996, on 67 cases in 2001 and on 26 cases in 2006. The Supreme Court rules on electoral disputes during municipal elections. These courts have made many rulings independently, although such rulings may have caused considerable controversy. The Constitutional Court’s power over national elections, including presidential elections, has been contested by certain stakeholders, who condemn it for being a judge in its own cause because of its involvement in the supervision of the electoral process. 159. A survey published in June 2007 shows 60.3% of respondents expressing satisfaction at how elections are run in Benin, with 27.09% saying they are not satisfied. This means that most people are happy with the country’s electoral system and democracy. 160. This, however, does not mean that the people are satisfied with the political parties (whose actions have come under considerable criticism), or with the politicians for that matter. Rather, the dissatisfaction is mitigated by the culture of tolerance of the country’s citizens; the important role of democratic vigilance; and the participation of a very dynamic civil society, which is interested in the management of public affairs (there are more than 6,000 registered NGOs, some of which are highly rated). Civil society plays an important role in promoting and entrenching a democratic culture and seems to be replacing political parties as organisers of the country’s political life. Civil society also contributes greatly to the fight against poverty at the grass-roots level. 161. Civil society would stand to gain by organising itself better and by organising itself into national networks so as to become more visible and be more efficient, especially in the rural areas. Several stakeholders have condemned civil society for being present more in conference halls than on the ground. They are said to be quick at diverting partner funds for their own ends. Hence, civil society needs to build its institutional capacity. Good practice 3.3: Democratic changeover at the helm of affairs: expressing a shared culture of democracy, tolerance and fair play In years gone by, Benin was at the mercy of military takeovers. These led to revolutionary dictatorships that forbade power-sharing in any form. The democratic transition of the 19891991 period led to an exemplary democratic process, where everyone accepted the verdict of the ballot box as a sign of the sovereignty of the people. At the end of the highly contested presidential elections of 1991, which ended the transition to multiparty democracy, General Mathieu Kérékou, who had until then directed affairs with an iron fist, handed over the seat of power to Nicéphore Soglo. Five years later, Kérékou regained the seat through the ballot box, in a remarkable comeback, to become head of state. This was proof enough that the multiparty system and democracy in Africa had become an open field to all, even to former proponents of a one- 79