Nomination of Regional Councillors by political parties ‘Process not fair and democratic,’ says Electoral Commission |28 July 2018

The Electoral Commission (EC) has said that it does not consider the process of nomination of Regional Councillors by two political parties to be a fair democratic process.

The EC was reacting to the recent establishment of the Regional Councils, whereby only two political parties have nominated candidates for the post of councillors.

In a communiqué stating its position on the matter, the EC writes:

“The Electoral Commission has the mandate to ensure that the political landscape in Seychelles operates freely and fairly, and enables the full participation of all citizens in politics and elections. Included in this mandate is the role of the Electoral Commission as the Registrar of Political parties, and the oversight role it has in their activities.

“The recent establishment of the Regional Councils has been done in a process whereby only two political parties, namely Parti Lepep and Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, have nominated candidates.

“While the Regional Councils are said to be non-political, the fact that all its members have been nominated by political parties, indicates the contrary.

“The Electoral Commission recognises the effort to have more public participation in district matters through representation on the Regional Councils. However, the Electoral Commission considers that in view of citizens’ right to participate in government (Article 24 of the Constitution) the process of nomination of Regional Councillors by only two political parties disenfranchises citizens who may not support any of these two parties or any party for that matter.

“There is no existing legal provision that permits the Electoral Commission to exercise any action in this matter. As such the Electoral Commission wishes to state that it does not consider the process of nomination of Regional Councillors by two political parties to be a fair democratic process.”