National Assembly election – September 8-10, 2016 |12 September 2016

Who got the seats…

The opposition coalition Linyon Demokratik Seselwa unseated the ruling Parti Lepep by winning a majority in parliament during the National Assembly election over the weekend.

This is the first time since the return of multiparty democracy here in 1993 that an opposition party is victorious over the ruling party in any election.

During three days – September 8-10 – Seychellois were called upon to vote for their representatives to sit in the sixth National Assembly.

Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS)got 15 direct seats and Parti Lepep got 10.

LDS got four proportionate seats in the assembly after garnering a total of 30,444 votes (49.65%) and Parti Lepep got the same number after totaling 30,218 votes (49.28%).

LDS will thus hold 19 seats in the sixth National Assembly and Parti Lepep will hold 14 seats.

Both parties fielded some political stalwarts and debutants.

Parti Lepep won all 25 direct seats in 2011 after the main opposition party – the Seychelles National Party – boycotted the election.

Despite not getting a majority for the first time, Parti Lepep boasts in Charles de Commarmond of Cascade the candidate who has won the most elections – six in total (1993, 1998, 2002, 2007, 2011 and 2016).

Back in the race after not running in 2011, Waven William won the Grand Anse Mahé constituency for the fifth time to be joint second in the highest number election victories after past wins in 1993, 1998, 2002 and 2007. Jeovanna Charles, who did not run this time has also got five wins to her name – for Plaisance in 1993 and for Roche Caïman in 1998, 2002, 2007 and 2011.

Compared to 2007, Parti Lepep lost eight districts – Anse Aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Au Cap, Baie Lazare, Glacis, Grand Anse Praslin, Mont Buxton and Plaisance – to the opposition.

This is also the first time the opposition wins in Anse Aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Au Cap, Baie Lazare, Grand Anse Praslin and Plaisance.

Apart from Cascade where Mr de Commarmond has remained untouchable with six wins, Parti Lepep (formerly Seychelles People’s Progressive Front) has also never lost in Anse Royale (Barry Faure in 1993, 1998 and 2002, Terrence Françoise in 2007 and Derek Samson in 2011), Baie Ste Anne (Mitcy Larue in 1993, 1998, 2002 and 2007, and Natasha Esther in 2011), English River (Patrick Herminie in 1993, 1998, and 2002 , Roy Nibourette in 2007, and Kevin Vidot in 2011), Grand Anse Mahé (Waven William in 1993, 1998, 2002 and 2007, and Lenny Lebon in 2011), Inner Islands (Monica Figaro in 1993 and 1998, Ansley Constance in 2002 and 2007, and Chantal Ghislain in 2011), Pointe Larue (Dick Esparon in 1993, 1998, and 2002, Jeniffer Vel in 2007 and 2011), Port Glaud (Ginette Gamatis in 1993, 1998, 2002 and 2007, and Sultane Jacqueline in 2011), Roche Caïman (Jeovanna Charles in 1998, 2002, 2007 and 2011) and Takamaka (Theresa Marie-Jeanne in 1993, Bernie Marie in 1998, Terrence Mondon in 2002 and 2007, and Alderic Bristol in 2011).

For the opposition, this is only the second time Wavel Ramkalwan has lost a parliamentary election. Mr Ramkalawan, who was running for the English River constituency this time and got 1,255 votes to lose it to Wilbert Herminie (1,316), lost to Bella Henderson in St Louis in 1993. He then won the St Louis constituency in 1998 and 2002 before taking victory in Anse Etoile in 2007.

Like Mr Ramkalawan, Nicholas Préa and Bernard Georges have three wins after past victories in 2002 and 2007. Préa reclaimed Bel Ombre and Georges won back Les Mamelles.

The new entries on the LDS side are Patrick Pillay (Anse Boileau), Ahmed Afif (Anse Etoile), Stephen Pillay (Au Cap), François Adelaide (Baie Lazare), John Hoareau (Beau Vallon), Wavel Woodcock (Grand Anse Praslin) and Clive Roucou (Plaisance).

Although they have served as proportionate members before, Clifford André (Anse Aux Pins) and Gervais Henrie (Mont Buxton) have been elected for the first time.

André was a proportionate member for Parti Lepep in 2002, while Henrie represented SNP after he replaced Frank Elizabeth of the Democratic Party in 2007.

On Parti Lepep’s side, the new entries are Sylvanne Lemiel (Anse Royale), Churchill Gill (Baie Ste Anne), Wilbert Herminie (English River), Noline Sophola (Inner islands), Jude Valmont (Pointe Larue), Clifford Aglaé (Port Glaud), Audrey Vidot (Roche Caïman) and Paul Ernesta (Takamaka).

The biggest win is by Noline Ernesta who won by 695 votes against LDS’ Loncey Micock.