SNP, DP endorse electoral pact |06 July 2006

Signed by SNP leader and presidential candidate, Wavel Ramkalawan, and recently elected DP leader, Paul Chow, the agreement sets out the two parties’ shared aim to form a new government based on, “freedom, national unity, tolerance, transparency and social justice.”

The signing of the agreement, which was followed by talks between SNP and DP officials, confirms that the Democratic Party will not put forward a candidate in the July 28 to 30 elections.

“The Democratic Party will not present a candidate in the Presidential Election of 2006 and will give full support to the candidate of the Seychelles National Party, Wavel Ramkalawan, and his nominee for the post of Vice-President, Annette Georges,” states the agreement.

In return for stepping out of the presidential race, the DP looks set to be given a number of seats in an SNP government, with the agreement stating that, “as President of the Republic of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan will consider for inclusion as Ministers in the Cabinet persons proposed by the Democratic Party.”

Speaking to members of the press after the signing, Mr Ramkalawan stressed the importance of unity in the opposition and throughout the country.

He said that SNP conventions have consistently called for a unified opposition.
“Our people are behind this electoral arrangement and this is why we have the mandate to do it.

And I see a lot of strength in what we are doing because it is the unity of the people that we are talking about.”

He said that talks with DP representatives preceding the signing had revealed that the two parties’ policy differences were minor and that the two platforms would be blended together before being presented in the SNP’s election manifesto.

While Mr Ramkalawan said that there would be future collaboration between the two parties, he stopped short of saying whether it would carry over to any National Assembly elections.

“We will talk about National Assembly elections when the time is right,” he said.
Speaking for the DP, Mr Chow set out his party’s aims for the agreement.

“The DP is seeking unity and reconciliation, a situation where we can dispassionately discuss the problems the country is facing.”

He said that the agreement had come about at the invitation of the SNP and that, “it was something we were very happy to respond to as I think we were moving in the same direction.”

He denied that it was simply a party political move, saying instead that, “the purpose is to give the people of Seychelles the best possible option for them to make a decision.”