Assembly turns down motion calling for its dissolution |31 May 2006

The motion was presented by the Leader of the Opposition, Honourable Wavel Ramkalawan, during yesterday's sitting.

All 22 members of the majority Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF) party voted against the motion, while the 11 Opposition members of the Seychelles National Party (SNP) voted in favour.

Although the Speaker of the 34-strong Assembly is a member of the majority party, he has no right to vote in any proceeding, unless there is a tie.

In line with the Constitution, presidential election should be held before August 3 of this year and the parliamentary election in November 2007, at the end of its five-year mandate.

When presenting his arguments for early parliamentary election, Hon. Ramkalawan said since the return of multi-party politics in Seychelles in 1993, it has been customary for both the presidential and parliamentary elections to take place together.

The tradition, he said, was however interrupted when former President France Albert Rene held an early presidential election in 2001 before the end of his mandate and the parliamentary election was therefore held a year later.

He said that given the mass public anticipation for election, it would be more appropriate to have both elections together so as to give the leadership of the country a fresh start – since both party’s nominated presidential candidates are seeking their first five-year mandate in office – to boost investors' confidence and to enable people to continue with their lives without having to live in constant anxiety.

Furthermore, Hon Ramkalawan said given the country's economic constraints, it would also be more cost-effective to have both elections at the same time, as the country would be able to maximise the use of resources, compared to having separate elections.

He added that the Seychelles National Party (SNP) was ready for both elections.

Speaking against the motion and on behalf of all the SPPF members, the Leader of Government Business, Honourable Patrick Herminie, said as a minority party, the Opposition did not have the authority to call for the dissolution of the Assembly.

He said the call from the minority SNP party was inappropriate at this time, because the SPPF party still has a workable majority in the Assembly and is enjoying popular support.
He maintained that according to the Constitution, the Assembly can only be dissolved if a member motion calling for its dissolution is approved by two thirds of the members, or by the President, if the latter meets the requirements of the Constitution.

He added, with the SPPF being the majority party in the Assembly, he felt that it was that party who should decide whether or not to dissolve the Assembly not the Opposition, who are the minority.

Members of the Opposition who also spoke in favour of the motion were honourable Hardy Lucas, Annette Georges and Alain St Ange.