Seychelles Gets New President

Seychelles opposition candidate Wavel Ramkalawan has won the archipelago’s presidential election with 54.9 percent in a highly contested election held between 22nd – 24th October 2020.

The opposition, was narrowly defeated in a presidential election in 2015 but the opposition party took an advantage the following year in 2016 in the parliamentary election. The victory of the opposition leader is the first in 40 years since Seychelles gained independence from Britain.

President Ramkalawan is an Anglican priest and leader of the Seychelles Democratic Alliance and was contesting against the United Seychelles Party which has been in power since 1977. The other presidential candidate was Mr. Alain St. Ange, a former minster in the United Seychelles Government. The investiture of the new President will take place on 26th October at 4.30pm.

The Eastern Africa Standby Force was the only international observer group in the country to observe this important democratic process.

The EASF election observer mission has already issued its preliminary statement in which they have concluded with satisfaction that the general election was conducted in a calm, peaceful and generally serene environment. The EASF-EOM concluded that the election was free, transparent and credible.
 
The EASF Mission noted that 92% of the polling stations that they visited opened on time at 7 am as prescribed by the electoral law. The electoral personnel were present on time and they were professional in the manner they executed their tasks. The procedures for opening were respected in the presence of candidate representatives.

The EASF wishes to congratulate His Excellency Wavel Ramkalawan on his election as the new President of the Republic of Seychelles.