Chow election spurs SNP/DP alliance |28 March 2006

The election – called by the party's secretary general, Mr Gabriel, who was also the interim leader of the party – was held on March 16.

Speaking to Seychelles Nation, at the start of a five-year mandate at the helm of the party he joined in 1968, Mr Chow said that talks between the main opposition SNP and the DP are ongoing in a bid to offer a united opposition at the forthcoming election.

"We are discussing an electoral pact with the SNP because we feel that this situation is called for at the moment," said Mr Chow.

He said that the pact was being put in place, "because the electorate will have a very distinct choice between the SPPF and a new direction, which I think both parties (SNP/DP) can place in front of the people with a single mandate, a single candidate to make this happen."

Mr Chow had been appointed by his predecessor, interim party leader Mr Gabriel, to lead DP negotiations with the SNP, during which he said the two parties, "explored principles, we also explored different formats of how we can go forward with electoral pacts and we've established some rapport to understand how we can go forward."

Mr Chow said that the Democratic Party is a centre-right party, but that the party's principles are wide enough to allow for a dovetailing with the SNP.

"We would like to see less emphasis on state hand outs in terms of social welfare, probably than the SNP, but we've agreed that this should not be an issue for us," he said.

He declined to say whether, in the event of an SNP/DP election victory, DP members would take up Cabinet posts, saying only, "you'll have to wait for the official announcement on this."

He did say that, if a National Assembly election is called following the Presidential election, the two opposition parties would again field joint candidates.

DP currently holds no seats in the National Assembly.
He also rejected the suggestion that the alliance marked the end of the DP.
"In the alliance we reserve the right to walk out of that alliance at any time. We don't have to be in that alliance. The alliance is necessary, I think, because of the current economic and political situation of Seychelles."

Mr Chow said that national reconciliation and currency convertibility are election priorities for the DP, but said that a joint SNP/DP manifesto is still being finalised.

He dismissed speculation that the narrow margin of victory over Mr Gabriel in the DP election represented a potential split in the party and said that his rival will carry on as DP secretary general.

However, he did say that his victory would result in some changes.

"Definitely there will be a change in direction, there will be more emphasis on how the party conducts its affairs, but more importantly we have a critical moment (the election) coming up."