General Elections 2020: A landmark moment |31 December 2020
Queues at Au Cap on election day
The 2020 general elections, held between October 22-24, saw a lot of firsts for the country. Never in our country’s brief history had a disease put a halt on the economy and hindered our ‘normal’ way of life, forcing us to put on our masks, maintain physical distance and sanitising our hands as we trudged to the voting booths.
But perhaps the most significant first was the majority endorsement of opposition party, Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) who claimed victory in both the parliamentary and presidential elections.
On the morning of October 25, the results were categorical: 20 elected seats for LDS and six for United Seychelles (US), and Wavel Ramkalawan was heading to the State House with 54.9% of votes.
Below are some of the headline stories leading up to the landmark moment of the 2020 general elections and the results of the elections.
President Faure moves to dissolve parliament, calls for general elections
On July 30, in a telecasted evening address, the then President Danny Faure announced his intention to dissolve the sixth National Assembly to allow for the presidential and legislative elections to be held at the same time.
At the time of this announcement, the presidential election had been provisionally set for October 22-24 while the parliamentary election was scheduled for 2021.
President Faure called his move to dissolve the parliament an act to protect the national interest, observing that holding two separate elections would be too burdensome on our flailing economy.
President Faure’s decision was in accordance with Article 110 of the Constitution which allows a president to dissolve the parliament.
As the rationale for his decision, President Faure explained that the upcoming elections would put significant financial pressure on the country as it strives to overcome the economic outfall of Covid-19.
The budget for the 2020 presidential election was set at R15 million and the amount for the legislative election was expected to be even higher in 2021, President Faure offered as explanation.
He also highlighted that holding both elections this year will give the country and its people the opportunity to focus all of its efforts in re-building the economy in 2021 without any distractions and divisions.
“Elections are an essential part of democracy but at the same time they take up a lot of efforts and resources […] It is especially important in an uncertain and difficult climate, such as this one, for the people to choose the person that can best guide the country as president, as well as the National Assembly.”
“Once this is done, the country will gain the political stability and unity that it strongly needs for us to survive as a nation,” President Faure added.
The sixth National Assembly stood dissolved on August 6, 2020 and the Electoral Commission kick-started preparations to hold a general election on October 22 through to 24.
First presidential debate
A few weeks before Seychellois took to the polls, the three contenders of the presidential election participated in the first-ever televised debate.
Danny Faure (United Seychelles, US), Wavel Ramkalawan (LDS) and Alain St. Ange (One Seychelles) faced off on two separate occasions on the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) TV on October 9 and 16.
The debate allowed the candidates to present their stance on topical issues of national importance such as employment, the economy, drugs and housing, allowing voters to better inform their decisions.
General elections October 22-24
The three-day general elections kicked off on a Thursday (October 22) with special stations set up at the Old People's Home at North East Point, the Remand Centre at Bois De Rose, English River creche (for essential workers), Baie Lazare community centre for people working in tourism establishments in south Mahe, and at the quarantine centre at Beau Vallon Bay.
Also casting their votes on the first day of the general elections were those working or residing on Silhouette, and voters on some outer islands.
With the Covid-19 pandemic, voters were required to wear a mask to the voting polls, maintain social distance where possible and sanitise their hands as they collected their ballot papers and headed to the booths.
The Electoral Commission (EC) had accredited around 5,000 persons to work during the presidential and legislative elections including 923 EC staff, media personnel, service providers such as Red Cross Seychelles, representatives of political parties and observers.
The first day of the general elections however did not run smoothly in all of the special polling stations, particularly at English River and Baie Lazare where a large number of people were still lined up to vote after closing hours.
The process was marred mainly by issues relating to the compilation of the register being used at these stations.
Electoral officers had to allow voters to vote even four hours after the stations had closed down.
The second day of the electoral process, October 23, focused on the outer islands and during the course of the day voting was held on Astove, Assomption, Ile aux Vaches, Denis and Fregate islands.
Due to rough seas, the six-person group from Aldabra were unable to cast their votes at their nearest station on Assomption.
The Electoral Commission recorded a total of 3,874 votes from the outer islands and special stations during the first day of the general elections.
The largest turnout, of course, was on the main polling day with stations opening in the 26 districts at 7am.
Approximately 74,634 eligible voters featured on the EC’s voters’ register in 26 districts, including Perseverance, a new constituency which would see its first elected member of parliament.
While the challenges encountered on the first day of election did not repeat itself on the final day, some polling stations such as Anse Etoile and La Digue were faced with ballot paper shortages.
By the end of the day however 65,978 persons had cast their votes.
Presidential election results: Ramkalawan claims historic victory
As polling stations closed their doors at 8pm on Saturday, some a little bit later due to persons who still had to vote, the country waited with bated breath through to Sunday morning for the results of the general election.
At exactly 10.15am on Sunday October 25, the presidential candidates and party representatives started to arrive at the EC headquarters for the results announcement.
Before 11am, EC chairperson Danny Lucas finally confirmed what the district-by-district results had been indicating: Wavel Ramkalwan would become the fifth President of the Republic.
Running for the presidency for the sixth time, the opposition candidate won the highest seat with 54.9% of valid votes cast to unseat incumbent President Faure.
Former President Faure standing for United Seychelles (US) had garnered 43.5% of the valid votes. The third presidential candidate for the 2020 presidential election, One Seychelles’ Alain St Ange, won 1.6% of votes.
Thousands of LDS supporters cheered and celebrated when the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Danny Lucas, officially made the announcement, presenting President Ramkalawan with the affidavit certifying his historic victory.
It is the first time that an opposition party claims a presidential victory since the return of multiparty democracy in 1993, while defeat in any presidential election held since then had been inconceivable for United Seychelles, formerly SPUP/SPPF/Parti Lepep. The party had been in power since 1977, although it conceded its first defeat in the National Assembly in 2016.
The well-established ruling party, now officially the opposition party, clinched the presidential elections of 1993, 1998, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016.
Newly elected President Ramkalawan scored majority votes in all electoral districts bar Roche Caïman, the Inner islands, Ile Perseverance and Baie Ste Anne.
In his victory speech, President Ramkalawan announced that his new administration would always welcome the contribution of all of Seychelles’ children, including that of outgoing President Faure.
“Mr Faure and I are good friends. And an election does not mean the end of one’s contribution to one’s motherland. Our motto is Seychelles for all her children. So, President Faure, I would like to thank you for all the work you have done for our country. I look forward to your continued contribution to the development of our homeland,” he said.
“In this election, there were no losers, there were no winners. Our country was given the opportunity as the ultimate winner.”
“The experience we have been through these past few days and the results we got. I would like to firstly say that we should not look at it as a victory for a political party. Through the results, the people of Seychelles gives us a lot of responsibility,” said President Ramkalawan when thanking his supporters.
On his part, outgoing President Faure graciously conceded his defeat to the opposition party and guaranteed a peaceful transition of power.
He highlighted that he would remain in Seychelles to provide his contribution since “Seychelles is greater than us all”.
One Seychelles presidential candidate, Alain St. Ange, did not attend the result confirmation ceremony.
A total of 66,017 votes were cast in the presidential election out of 74,634 eligible voters; 64,761 votes were considered valid and 1256 ballots were rejected. The turnout for the presidential election was 88%.
Legislative election results: LDS secures absolute majority
Alongside President Ramkalawan’s victory, LDS secured a staggering two-thirds majority in the 2020 legislative election, therefore claiming a landslide victory for LDS on all fronts.
The party, which now holds power over the executive and legislative branches, won 20 seats in the National Assembly elections and an additional five proportional while US laid claim to six districts and four proportional seats.
It is to be noted that US had consistently maintained majority seats in the parliament since the reinstatement of a multi-party system, until 2016 when LDS won a simple majority.
LDS consolidated seats in 15 districts while adding five new districts to its victory list, including US-strongholds Takamaka, Cascade Grand Anse Mahe and English River as well as the new district of Ile Persévérance.
Meanwhile, US retained Roche Caïman, Pointe Larue, the Inner Islands, Baie Ste Anne Praslin and Anse Royale.
The other contesting parties, One Seychelles and Lalyans Seselwa did not manage to secure any legislative wins.
Two independent candidates Holbert Jean (St Louis) and Keith Andre (Beau Vallon) also took part in the parliamentary elections.
The elected members for each district are as follows:
Anse Aux Pins: Clifford Andre- LDS (52.8% of 2834 valid votes)
Anse Boileau: Philip Arissol- LDS (53.1% of 2945 valid votes)
Anse Etoile: Georges Romain- LDS (62% of 3484 valid votes)
Anse Royale: Sylvanne Lemiel- US (51.3% of 2893 valid votes)
Au Cap: Kelly Samynadin- US (61.7% of 2990 valid votes)
Baie Lazare: François Adelaide- LDS (55% of 2407 valid votes)
Baie Ste Anne Praslin: Churchill Gill- US (46.7% of 2964 valid votes)
Beau Vallon: John Hoareau- LDS (60% of 2879 valid votes)
Bel Air: Norbert Loizeau- LDS (51.7% of 1982 valid votes)
Bel Ombre: Sandy Arissol- LDS (63.2% of 2731 valid votes)
Cascade: Philip Monthy - LDS (54.2% of 2428 valid votes)
English River: Andy Labonte- LDS (57.5% of 2484 valid votes)
Glacis: Regina Esparon- LDS (62.2% of 2753 valid votes)
Grand Anse Mahe: Waven William- LDS (67.6% of 2113 valid votes)
Grand Anse Praslin: Wavel Woodcock - LDS (51.8% of 2504 valid votes)
Ile Persévérance: Desheila Bastienne- LDS (53.2% of 2703 valid votes)
Inner Islands: Rocky Uranie- LDS (61.7% of 1792 valid votes)
Les Mamelles: Bernard George- LDS (58.1% of 2026 valid votes)
Mont Buxton: Gervais Henrie- LDS (58.5% of 2477 valid votes)
Mont Fleuri: Michel Roucou- LDS (58.9% of 2236 valid votes)
Plaisance: Richard Labrosse- LDS (53.2% of 2728 valid votes)
Pointe Larue: Conrad Gabriel- US (52.4% of 2090 valid votes)
Port Glaud: Egbert Aglae- US (51.6% of 1799 valid votes)
Roche Caïman: Audrey Vidot- US (44.7% of 1749 valid votes)
St Louis: Sathyanarayanan Naidu- LDS (59.9% of 2140 valid votes)
Takamaka: Terence Mondon- LDS (54.7% of 2063 valid votes)
LDS supporters take to the street to celebrate
Even before the election results had been announced, hundreds of giddy LDS supporters had already taken to the streets on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue before dawn on Sunday morning as results from each districts gradually trickled in, making it more and more obvious who was going to win the seat at the State House as the hours wore on.
Cars were adorned with stickers, posters and flags bearing the LDS logo and slogan while the supporters all wore smiles of joy, accomplishment and relief, and a few even shed some tears.
LDS supporters lined up in Victoria to await President elect Wavel Ramkalawan as he made his way to State House to meet with outgoing President Danny Faure at 1.30pm.
The celebrations and roars of supporters intensified, moving closer to the gates of the State House. To the delight of supporters, President elect Ramkalawan and Mr Afif drove through Independence Avenue to casually greet supporters upon concluding the meet.
President Ramkalawan swears in
Two days after the tide-changing general elections, on October 26, President Wavel Ramkalawan, fifth President of the Republic of Seychelles, was sworn into office in the grounds of State House.
During the ceremony the President elect took the Oath of Allegiance and Presidential Oath, before the Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Melchior Vidot, in the presence of the outgoing President, Danny Faure, and other distinguished guests.
In his inaugural address, President Ramkalawan called for national unity, urging citizens and leaders to cultivate, uphold and work to the highest moral standards, in the interest of the country.
“For the five years that you have elected me in this office, I encourage every Seychellois to play their part in making a contribution for the further development of our nation. I believe no Seychellois should be left behind, so I call on everyone in whichever capacity that you are serving the country today, to remember you are not only working for yourself but also for your beloved country.”
During his inaugural address, the President thanked the outgoing President Danny Faure for his devotion, the love he has for his country and for working hard for the benefit of Seychelles. He also thanked the outgoing President for the good relations that exist between the two of them. He expressed the hope that the transition continues in peace between two leaders who respect one another and continues to set an example for all citizens in the communities.
On October 27, Ahmed Afif, running mate to President Wavel Ramkalawan during general elections, was also inaugurated into office during a brief ceremony at State House.
New LDS-strong National Assembly sworn in
The seventh National Assembly was sworn in on October 28 with former opposition, Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS), securing its absolute majority seats in the parliament.
While LDS secured 25 seats (20 elected and five proportional), United Seychelles (US) secured 10 (six elected and four proportional).
The MNAs were sworn in before the outgoing Speaker Nicholas Prea and witnessed by President Wavel Ramkalawan, Vice-President Ahmed Afif and other guests.
As the new MNAs took their oaths in the National Assembly’s chamber, the secretariat were removing the framed photographs of the former speaker and deputy speaker ‒ Mr Prea and Ahmed Afif ‒ of the sixth National Assembly in preparation for the incoming elected speakers.
In the morning inauguration ceremony, the speakership passed from Mr Prea to LDS party leader Roger Mancienne who was the only person nominated for the seat.
Honourable Gervais Henrie is the new deputy Speaker of the seventh cohort, while Honourable Sebastien Pillay and Honourable Bernard Georges have been elected as leader of the opposition and leader of government business respectively.
A historic first for the National Assembly was the swearing in of its first MNA living with disability, LDS proportional member Naddy Zialor. The 32-year-old with cerebral palsy, was working at the employment department before his move to parliament.
Compiled by Elsie Pointe
