Marie-Elise Gbèdo
Encyclopedia
Marie-Elise Akouavi Gbèdo (born 1954) is a Benin
ese politician who has run for president twice. In May 1998 she was made Minister of Commerce, Crafts, and Tourism under President Mathieu Kérékou
; he dismissed her from that position in June 1999. Afterwards, she became a vocal critic of the government, and she stood as a candidate in the March 2001 presidential election, becoming the country's first female presidential candidate. In doing so, Gbèdo, a mother of two, faced some conservative attitudes; in particular, she received disapproval because she was divorced. Reportedly she received more disapproval from women than men, although she had the backing of some women's groups. In the election, she took 11th place with 0.36% of the vote. Running again in the March 2006 presidential election
, she took 16th place with 0.33% of the vote.
Benin
Benin , officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. Its small southern coastline on the Bight of Benin is where a majority of the population is located...
ese politician who has run for president twice. In May 1998 she was made Minister of Commerce, Crafts, and Tourism under President Mathieu Kérékou
Mathieu Kérékou
Mathieu Kérékou, was President of Benin from 1972 to 1991 and again from 1996 to 2006. After seizing power in a military coup, he ruled the country for 17 years, for most of that time under an officially Marxist-Leninist ideology, before he was stripped of his powers by the National Conference of...
; he dismissed her from that position in June 1999. Afterwards, she became a vocal critic of the government, and she stood as a candidate in the March 2001 presidential election, becoming the country's first female presidential candidate. In doing so, Gbèdo, a mother of two, faced some conservative attitudes; in particular, she received disapproval because she was divorced. Reportedly she received more disapproval from women than men, although she had the backing of some women's groups. In the election, she took 11th place with 0.36% of the vote. Running again in the March 2006 presidential election
Beninese presidential election, 2006
A presidential election was held in the West African state of Benin on March 5, 2006. Long-time president Mathieu Kérékou was barred from running again by a two term limit and an age limit of 70 years for candidates; in July 2005 he signalled that he would not seek to change the constitution, as...
, she took 16th place with 0.33% of the vote.