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Archive -Letter to the editor

Letter to the Editor - The post of Vice-President of the Republic |10 March 2017

 

Mr Editor, I have read and heard that the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposed amendment to the Constitution that would require new elections if the President of the Republic of Seychelles dies, resigns or is removed from office.

Therefore, I conclude there is no need for a running mate in presidential election, no need for the post of vice-president.

The post of vice-president was created in 1996, after an amendment to the Constitution, to create a system of succession similar to the United States’. India has the same system although the President there is not the head of government.

In Seychelles the opposition was against the system because they saw it as a way to “pas baton” (pass the baton), thereby facilitating the same party to remain in power.

This is an assumption. I will not contest it.

After Vice-President James Michel succeeded President Albert Rene in 2004, he won 53.75 support in the election in 2006. In 2011 he won 55.5%. In 2015 he won just over 50%, after getting only 47% in the first round.

The results are merely to show that incumbency does not always bring advantage.

Anyway, both the outgoing president and vice-president were elected for a five-year term which did not belong to the opposition.

Maybe the only real contention is in resignation.

But a president does not choose to die just to allow the vice-president to come into power. A president does not choose to be impeached or removed from office in other situations just to pass the baton of power to the vice-president.

Under the proposed amendment, the vice-president would become president until such time that an election for a new president was held under Article 51 of the Constitution. Maybe for 90 days only!

The vice-president will only act as president for 90 days only! After that short period of time he or she will have to go back to their party to be approved as candidate. A diminished interim role that can be assumed by a designated minister as before 1996, or the chief justice until fresh election is held.

In the United States of America the vice-president is the first person who would normally ascend to the presidency upon the death, resignation, or removal of the president. Even if the president is forced out of office through impeachment, the running mate or vice-president will complete the remainder of the term.

 

V. Charles

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Seychelles NATION newspaper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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