SNP and Lalyans Seselwa reject SPM leader’s claims |29 July 2016

The leaders of the Seychelles National Party (SNP) and Lalyans Seselwa (LS) have rejected what they say are “allegations targeting them” made by the leader of the Seychelles Patriotic Movement (SPM) Regis Francourt in a press conference aired on SBC on Sunday July 24, 2016.

The allegations made by Mr Francourt are that a sum of R12 million was paid through a construction company for the express purpose of ensuring that the opposition candidates were not united in the first round of the Presidential election.

“Mr Francourt claims to have proof of the recipient of the money, the bank account in which it was deposited and the company through which it was made,” says a communiqué from the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS), a grouping of opposition parties and individuals of which both SNP and LS form part.  

The communiqué says the SNP and LS leaders believe that the statements made by Mr Francourt of the SPM “are a targeted political attack” fabricated to damage their image and reputation in the eyes of the Seychellois public.

“In particular, they are intended to damage the prospects of Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, of which they form part and for which they are standing as candidates in the forthcoming National Assembly elections. They deplore such malicious tactics being used as part of an election campaign,” says the LDS communiqué.

“The two leaders deny any connection to any such transaction. They affirm that these allegations are baseless and challenge Mr Francourt to show any evidence to substantiate the statements. Such lies have been part of political campaigns in the past and there is no doubt that they are part of a cowardly and malicious effort to discredit the opposition to Parti Lepep,” adds the communiqué.

According to the communiqué the two leaders also deplore the implication of the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) in spreading the allegations.

“The action of the SBC to assist in targeting opponents of Parti Lepep are in gross violation of its mandate to be independent and objective in covering national affairs,” says the communiqué.

The communiqué says that the leaders will take legal action against Mr Francourt for making the allegations and against the SBC for airing them.