Uniting Seychellois! |21 December 2015

Early Saturday morning, incumbent President James Michel won a third five-year term against Seychelles National Party’s Wavel Ramkalawan in a historical election that had the whole nation watching.

After not one of the six candidates got the required 50% plus one votes for an outright majority in the first round from December 3-5, Mr Michel, who led with 47.76% of the votes, became Seychelles’ first incumbent President to face a run-off election.

The unprecedented second round run-off election from December 16-18 has put Mr Michel back in office with 50.15% (31,512 votes) compared to Seychelles National Party leader Wavel Ramkalawan’s 49.85% (31,319 votes).

It was the narrowest win, by 193 votes, in the history of the presidential election in Seychelles but enough to beat his challenger Mr Ramkalawan who did not muster enough votes to emerge winner despite getting the support of a breakaway faction of Parti Lepep, named Lalyans Seselwa under former Minister Patrick Pillay.

As his opponents gambled high and in the end lost nevertheless in their efforts to unseat him and the ruling party, President Michel will serve his third and final term under the country’s constitution. He was sworn in yesterday afternoon at State House (see main story on our front page).

Now that Mr Michel has won, he faces the task of uniting the country which critics say seems to be divided over its future, and this is quite normal after almost every election as every candidate has had the chance to address their supporters about different issues and present to them their programmes.

Mr Michel’s top priority is for Seychellois to figure out a way to keep these divisions from dividing the country.

He talked glowingly in his victory speech of the importance of “unity” and “dialogue”.

“Today the people have spoken. Today the people made their choice. The people have said that they wish that I continue on the path that I have commenced...for me to continue to lead Seychelles forward in stability, peace, and prosperity... I would like to thank all my supporters from Parti Lepep from the bottom of my heart for their support,” said President Michel.

He added: “The election has tested the maturity of our democracy. At this point in time, it is necessary, more than ever, that we continue to create more unity in our country. Today more than ever we need to work together as Seychellois, we need to ensure we bring our people together, because after all we are Seychellois... The President who has been elected is the President of all Seychellois and we all need to work together for our Seychelles. ”

Supporters of both sides of the political spectrum must understand that we need a prosperous Seychelles and for this to happen we have to work together...