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Cotonou: Benin's Prime Minister Lionel Zinsou will face businessman Patrice Talon in the second round of voting for the country's presidency, the constitutional court announced on Sunday.
Court president Theodore Holo told reporters Zinsou obtained 858,080 votes in last Sunday's first round, followed by Talon on 746,528 and Sebastien Ajavon on 693,084.
The second-round run-off will take place next Sunday, March 20, he added.
The results confirm indications given last week by the electoral commission after a vote which according to election monitors passed off without incident in the tiny West African nation.
The winner will succeed outgoing President Thomas Boni Yayi, who is stepping down after serving two full terms of five years.
Campaigning for the second round is expected to start on Monday and finish on Friday.
The first round saw a record 33 candidates stand for election but Zinsou and Talon were among the favourites.
Zinsou, 61, who quit as head of France's biggest investment bank to become prime minister last year, has been touted as Boni Yayi's successor.
He already has the support of two opposition parties but Talon, who previously bankrolled Boni Yayi's two successful presidential campaigns, is a charismatic figure.
The 57-year-old, who made his fortune in cotton, returned from exile in France last year after being pardoned for alleged involvement in a plot to poison the head of state.
After the preliminary results by the electoral commission earlier this week, Zinsou's camp said it was disappointed by the number of votes he won.
Talon's spokesman said they were "ready to talk to everyone, and especially Ajavon" before the second round.
The election was postponed from February 28 because of problems distributing new voters' cards.
AFP
