The constitutional court in Benin has declared that pro-government parties won a majority of seats in Sunday’s parliamentary election.

Allies of President Patrice Talon secured 81 seats, while the main opposition party, the Democrats, won 28 seats.

It is the first time in four years that the opposition will be represented in parliament, as in the last poll the only parties that were allowed to compete were the ones loyal to President Tallon, whose opponents were jailed or exiled at that time.

Earlier the Democrats’ party leader, Eric Houndete, denounced the result, saying the poll was rigged, though without providing evidence.