1st LD Writethru: Cotton tycoon Patrice Talon elected Benin's president
Xinhua, March 22, 2016 Adjust font size:
Businessman Patrice Talon has won Benin's presidential run-off vote, according to the provisional results announced by the electoral commission on Monday.
Talon, a 58-year-old cotton tycoon, won 65.39 percent of the vote, defeating his challenger, outgoing Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou, who took 34.61 percent.
Zinsou has conceded defeat to Talon in Sunday's run-off and congratulated him.
The provisional results did not include ballots cast by Beninese nationals living abroad and would be confirmed by the constitutional court, the electoral body said.
It is a turnaround from the first round vote held on March 6 when Zinsou took the lead among 33 candidates, and was slightly ahead of Talon with his 28.44 percent against Talon's 24.80 percent.
Talon was said to have obtained the support of 24 defeated candidates before the run-off.
He is to replace President Yayi Boni, who will step down on April 6 after two terms in office. Endit