CHAPTER THREE: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GOVERNANCE __________________________________________________________________________ the voters’ list. Efforts at putting together a permanent and computerised voters’ register, based on a thorough electoral census, have yielded nothing. Several reasons have been provided for this: exorbitant cost, obstruction by unscrupulous politicians who capitalise on the loopholes in the system to manipulate the register for fraudulent ends, and practical difficulties linked to the lack of legal identity of a large number of potential voters. Informal sources report that at least 50% of Beninese citizens of voting age do not have a birth certificate, let alone a national identity card. The rallies held to remedy the situation were not successful because of the high cost of the procedure for rural dwellers. Promises by various governments to solve the situation have also been in vain and the status quo seems to suit everyone. It has become urgent to solve the problem in order to enhance the credibility of the elections and of democracy in Benin. 156. The HAAC ensures equal access to the public media by all parties. All candidates are given equal airtime for their activities and all parties believe that they are given equal access during elections. Outside of election time, however, feelings are mixed about such access as there are no regulations to that effect. It would be advisable to compel the media – especially the audiovisual houses, public and private alike – to cover the parties’ events on an equal basis throughout the year by affording them airtime to express themselves directly to the public. 157. Electoral campaigns provide candidates the opportunity to meet freely with the electorate and solicit their votes. There have been many discrepancies during elections, thereby casting doubt on the efficiency of the electoral system. These include: clandestine financing of campaigns and moneymaking, mass circulation of monies, lobbying, interference by traditional leaders and religious bodies during campaigns to influence choices, vote bargaining and alliances, politicisation, failure by CENA and the public administration to remain neutral, shortcomings in the organisation of the elections, various fraudulent acts, and others. Box 3.3: Mastering the financing of elections Mastering the financing of elections in Benin has become an issue of concern, especially against a backdrop of economic crisis and endemic poverty. Indeed, since the advent of democratic renewal, the cost of elections has been rising at an alarming rate. From 3.2 billion CFA franc in 1996 to 9.7 billion CFA franc in 2001, it climbed to 31.7 billion CFA franc (48.78 million euros) in 2006. These figures are only for the presidential election, and amount to two and six times the combined cost of the last presidential and legislative elections held in Mali and Niger respectively – both of which have larger populations. The organisation of elections has become a quick way of making money, and many are cashing in. Over-invoicing, corruption, embezzlement and all forms of excesses have become the order of the day. These practices were recently denounced by the Council of Ministers, which has become aware of this electoral waste. The APR Panel is calling on the authorities to consider quickly ways and means of controlling the financing of future elections. 78