Antoine Idji Kolawolé

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Antoine Idji Kolawolé (born 1946) is a Beninese politician. He was the minister of foreign affairs of Benin from 1998 to 2003 and the President of the National Assembly from 2003 to 2007.<ref>Historie du Parlement Beninois assemblee-nationale.bj (in French) October 2017</ref>

Political career

Kolawolé was born in 1946 in Illikimou, near Kétou, Benin. He first received a degree in journalism from the Université de Fribourg in Switzerland in 1972, before receiving a bachelor's degree in law from the same university in 1973.<ref name="us" /> He then received an advanced degree in law from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University in France in 1976.<ref name="us" /> Under President Mathieu Kérékou, Kolawolé served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from May 1998 to May 2003, when he resigned. In the March 2003 parliamentary election, his party, the African Movement for Development and Progress (MADEP), participated in the Presidential Movement, which supported Kérékou, and Kolawolé was elected as President of the National Assembly on April 25, 2003.<ref>IPU PARLINE page for 2003 parliamentary election.</ref>

Kolawolé served as First Vice-President of MADEP,<ref>"Tractations pour la présidence de l’Assemblée : Vers un consensus au sein du « front anti-cauris » ?", Le Matinal, April 25, 2007 Template:In lang. {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and in September 2005 he was designated as the party's presidential candidate for the March 2006 presidential election.<ref>Jean Sina, "Candidature du Madep pour 2006 : Idji Kolawolé soutenu par les cadres du parti" Template:Webarchive, Le Matin, 6 September 2005 Template:In lang.</ref> In the election, he took fifth place with 3.25% of the vote in the first round.<ref>Elections in Benin, African Elections Database.</ref>

He was re-elected to the National Assembly in the March 2007 parliamentary election as part of the Alliance for a Dynamic Democracy.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}, BeninInfo.com Template:In lang.</ref> Mathurin Nago was elected by the National Assembly to succeed Kolawolé as its President on May 3, 2007.<ref>Jean-Christophe Houngbo, "Election du bureau de l’Assemblée nationale : Comment Yayi Boni a gagné le perchoir", Le Matinal, May 4, 2007 Template:In lang. {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the April 2015 parliamentary election, he was re-elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of the Union Makes the Nation coalition in the 21st constituency.<ref>Yao Hervé Kingbêwé, "Législatives : liste complète des 83 députés selon la CENA", La Nouvelle Tribune, 2 May 2015 Template:In lang.</ref> In 2016, he commentated on relations with the United States.<ref name="us">Template:Cite news</ref> He praised Barack Obama for his contributions to Africa and for advancing justice for minorities, but expressed concern regarding Donald Trump and warned that he could undermine U.S. relations with Africa.<ref name="us" /> However, he still called for free trade with the United States and expansion of U.S. programs.<ref name="us" />

He announced prior to the 2019 Beninese parliamentary election that he would not run as a candidate and would give up his seat in favor of former mayor Jean Pierre Babatoundé and for other young candidates of the Progressive Union Renewal party.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

External links

• Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, January 1, 2001
• Resignation
• Spécial Présidentielles 2006 Template:In lang
• Presidentials