The Election Commission on Sunday, October 25, confirmed the election of Wavel Ramkalawan as President of the Seychelles. With 54.9% of the vote, the Anglican pastor of the Linyion Democratik Seselwa party defeated outgoing President Danny Faure in the first round. For the first time in more than 40 years, the Seychelles has a non-issuing head of state from the former single party.
The Seychelles has a new president. After four years at the helm of the Indian Ocean archipelago, Danny Faure, the outgoing president and candidate of the United Seychelles, was defeated in a three-day vote between Thursday, October 22 and Saturday, October 24.
The Electoral Commission confirmed on Sunday 25 October: with 43.5% of the vote, Danny Faure was beaten in the first round by Wavel Ramkalawan, who won 54.9% of the vote. “I am pleased to announce that Wavel Ramkalawan has won the presidential election and to present him with his certificate,” said Danny Lucas, chairman of the Electoral Commission, on Sunday. Alain St Ange, the third man in the presidency, won 1.6% of the vote.
The first president who did not come from the former single party
Candidate from Linyon Democratik Seselwa (LDS, Seychellois Democratic Union), Wavel Ramkalawan, 59, thus becomes the fifth president in the history of the Seychelles. He succeeds Sir James Mancham (a little less than a year in power), France-Albert René (27 years in power), James michel(12 years in power) and therefore Danny Faure (4 years in power). The Anglican priest is, above all, the first president not to come from the former single party.
This is the sixth time that Wavel Ramkalawan is running for president. During the last election, in 2015, he was beaten in the second round by James Michel for only 193 votes (50.15% against 49.85%). The latter had resigned in September 2016 following the defeat of his party in the legislative election and had left his deputy, Danny Faure, to end his term.
“Find out how we can unite our people to move forward”
The defeated outgoing president admitted defeat and wished Wavel Ramkalawan “good luck”. The LDS is the big winner because it also largely won the legislative election, organized at the same time as the presidential election. The new president’s party won 25 seats or two-thirds of the parliament.
The Seychelles is going through a difficult period. The largest economic activity in the archipelago, tourism, suffers greatly from the health crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Tourists are few and the value of the currency is collapsing. “It is important to find out how we can unite our people to move forward,” said the new president, who was due to be sworn in on Monday.
(With AFP)
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