May 10-12 National Assembly election-SPPF retains majority |14 May 2007

The Seychelles National Party (SNP) retained its 11 seats when seven of its candidates were voted in, also earning four proportionate seats.

There was a shift in the districts where the two parties’ candidates won, as Michel Marie of SPPF won in the Mont Buxton constituency which was formerly held by an SNP Member of the National Assembly (MNA).

SPPF also gained Glacis through MNA-elect David Payet, but the ruling party lost Mont Fleuri to Jean-François Ferrari of SNP and Anse Etoile, which went to the opposition party’s leader Wavel Ramkalawan.

Both the parties fielded veteran and new candidates with winners among SPPF’s newcomers being Joseph François who is the new MNA for Anse aux Pins, Terence Françoise (Anse Royale), Marc Naiken (Au Cap), Wilby Lucas (Baie Lazare), Michel Marie (Mont Buxton), Roy Nibourette (English River), David Payet (Glacis), Jeniffer Vel (Pointe Larue), Bernard Adonis (Plaisance) and Marc Volcere (Grand Anse Praslin).

SNP’s newcomers in the Assembly as elected MNAs are Norbert Loizeau (Bel Air) Jean-François Ferrari (Mont Fleuri) and Sandy Arissol (St Louis).

Voting started on the outer islands on Thursday but the bulk of polling was on Saturday, when stations reported a steady throughout-the-day flow with hardly any peaks, in what President James Michel described as a new pattern.

Officials said that the electorate, who took part in presidential elections only eight months ago, had mastered voting patterns, thus avoiding times when there would be too many people wanting to cast their ballots at the same time.

Others, like Jacqueline Pierre, who was in charge of the Les Mamelles station, said that being a Saturday, many voters apparently opted to finish their housework first before polling.

She also said that another large proportion chose to attend afternoon mass and combine their trip to church with one to the polling stations.

President Michel and First Lady Natalie Michel voted at Bel Air at 1.00 p.m., while the leader of the SNP, Mr Ramkalawan, voted at the Belonie school station (for Saint Louis registered voters) at 4.00 p.m. on Saturday.