PRESIDENT JAMES ALIX MICHEL SECURES RE-ELECTION AS RUNOFF RESULTS ARE IN
(Posted 18th December 2015)
Results of the Seychelles runoff election for President have just been confirmed by the Electoral Commission in Victoria, Seychelles’ capital city, with President James Alix Michel being declared the winner with a margin of 50.15 percent of the votes cast.
In a narrow victory has he beaten his challenger Wavel Ramkalawan who, inspite of getting the support of a breakaway faction of the ruling party LEPEP did not muster enough votes to emerge winner.
Immediate reactions from a number of senior tourism stakeholders was one of great relief and satisfaction, that the economic course charted under President Michel during his last two terms was now certain to continue.
The opposition’s position in this regard was both confused and unclear, with a number of sentiments expressed during the campaign clearly bound to raise questions over the way forward, vis a vis investments and existing partnerships. Wavel may also have paid the price in the end for not appearing in person when the election results in 2011 were declared, by many even among his supporters causing consternation at the time, and for having pulled out his party from the last parliamentary elections, leaving the current parliament with but one opposition member though not from the SNP. It is now left for history to judge what and where it went wrong for him. The result has also dealt a devastating blow to the breakaway faction of Parti LEPEP, named Lalyans Seselwa under former Minister Patrick Pillay, who gambled high and in the end lost nevertheless in his effort to unseat President Michel and the ruling party.
This will be President Michel’s third and final term under the country’s constitution. A swearing in ceremony is expected to be held very soon, maybe as early as Sunday, at State House in Victoria but these details are still to be confirmed.
The Seychelles this year has enjoyed unprecedented success for the archipelago’s tourism industry and employment of Seychellois is at a record high as a new visitor record has already been established with some 19 percent more arrivals this year compared to 2014. No incidents were reported from the three main islands where elections took place yesterday, Friday, and supporters of both sides of the political spectrum have been asked to remain calm and respect the result.
And in a significant development has the Commonwealth Secretary General said this about the reports he received from his observer mission:
‘The Commonwealth election observation group has taken a comprehensive and independent view on the elections. They have commented publicly at various points during and after the two rounds, and are completing a report which I expect to receive shortly and which will be shared transparently with all key political leaders in Seychelles and made public as soon as possible.
I am conscious that the margin of electoral victory in the second round was narrow, and that the result is now the subject of a legal challenge. It is of the utmost priority to the Commonwealth at this critical and sensitive juncture that due processes are pursued where questions have arisen about the electoral process and outcome. The public calls by political leaders for calm and respect for the rule of law are valuable and welcome at this time, and the Commonwealth joins in these sentiments.
I am particularly aware that the Commonwealth observers, with regard to the second round, have commended the Electoral Commission and its Chairman for the conduct of the election.
The Commonwealth therefore looks forward to the independent national institutions and processes that are in place in Seychelles successfully addressing the challenges to the election outcome as soon as possible, so that the country can move forward with political clarity and certainty‘.
Quod erat demonstrandum …
