Western-Style Democracy Can Spark Anarchy, Benin President Says

Benin President Patrice Talon said that democracy can lead to anarchy and paralyze government decisions, and that he doesn’t intend to fully implement it.

The country’s economy and history make it impossible to emulate Western democracies, Talon said at a business event in Paris. He argued that authoritarian measures are necessary in his country and defended a decision to ban protests by health workers, police officers and firefighters and to limit the right to strike to 10 days a year for others.