Beninese Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni, the ruling party's presidential candidate, won Benin's April 12 presidential election in the first round as expected with around 94% of the vote, according to provisional results announced by the electoral commission, as reported by RFI on April 14. Moderate opposition candidate Paul Hounkpe secured nearly 6% of the vote and conceded defeat before the official results were released, publicly congratulating Wadagni.

Since Wadagni's appointment as minister of economy and finance in 2016, he has been a central figure in Benin's economic policy, overseeing tax reforms, debt restructuring and efforts to improve investor confidence, positioning him as a key architect of Talon's economic agenda. Among his pledges, Wadagni has prioritized "bread-and-butter" issues, including expanding access to clean water, strengthening social protection systems and guaranteeing emergency health care regardless of ability to pay. In parallel, he has also outlined security-focused measures, including the creation of municipal police units in northern border towns to counter rising jihadist threats.