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Key Points

The Seychelles presidential election has entered an unexpected runoff after no candidate secured an outright majority. Patrick Herminie of United Seychelles and incumbent President Wavel Ramkalawan will compete in a second round of voting from October 9-11. Herminie narrowly leads with 48.8% compared to Ramkalawan's 46.4%, setting up an intense political contest. The election also saw United Seychelles winning a majority in the National Assembly, adding another layer of intrigue to the political landscape.

Key Points: Seychelles Election Runoff Herminie vs Ramkalawan Presidential Battle

  • Patrick Herminie leads with 48.8% vote share
  • Incumbent President Ramkalawan trails with 46.4%
  • Runoff scheduled from October 9-11
  • United Seychelles wins National Assembly majority
2 min read

Seychelles presidential election heads to runoff as no candidate wins majority

Seychelles presidential race heads to runoff as Patrick Herminie and Wavel Ramkalawan compete for national leadership

"I pray only for peace, that we conduct a civilised campaign - Wavel Ramkalawan"

Victoria, Sep 28

The Electoral Commission of Seychelles announced Sunday that the country will proceed to a runoff presidential election, as no candidate secured more than half of the votes in the first round.

The results of the first round of the Seychelles presidential election were released on Sunday. Among the eight candidates, Patrick Herminie of the United Seychelles, the country's main opposition party, received 48.8 per cent of the votes, while incumbent President Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychellois Democratic Union (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa -- LDS) garnered 46.4 per cent.

According to the electoral commission, the runoff will take place from October 9 to 11, reports Xinhua news agency.

Under the Constitution of Seychelles, the presidential term is five years. A candidate who secures more than half of the votes in the first round is declared the winner. If no candidate achieves this majority, the two leading contenders advance to a second round of voting.

On the same day, the electoral commission released the results of the National Assembly election. The United Seychelles won 20 seats, while the LDS secured 15.

"I would like to thank the people of Seychelles for making the very wise decision to revisit the percentage of representation in the National Assembly and to give me that support of almost 49 per cent so that I can go into a second round," Herminie said shortly after the official announcement of results.

For his part, Ramkalawan congratulated the United Seychelles for winning a majority in the National Assembly, saying, "It is my second time going into a second round."

"I pray only for peace, that we conduct a civilised campaign, and I look forward to this next fight," he added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Just 2.4% difference between the top two candidates! This shows how competitive democracy has become globally. Reminds me of some close state elections we've had in India.
A
Arjun K
Good to see small island nations maintaining robust democratic processes. The fact that they have multiple parties contesting shows healthy political diversity. More power to Seychelles! 🙏
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Sarah B
While I appreciate the democratic process, I wish Indian media would cover more substantial domestic issues with the same enthusiasm as foreign elections. Our own democratic institutions need constant attention and improvement.
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Vikram M
The split between presidential and assembly results is fascinating! Opposition leading in assembly while president trails slightly. Shows voters are thinking strategically about checks and balances.
M
Michael C
As someone who has visited Seychelles, it's heartening to see their democracy functioning well. The tourism-dependent economy needs stable leadership. Hope the runoff brings clarity and stability.

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