People's Party (Seychelles)

Seychelles

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The People's Party (French: Parti Lepep) is a socialist political party in Seychelles. It publishes a newspaper called The People. It was known as the Seychelles People's Progressive Front (French: Front Progressiste du Peuple Seychellois) until June 2009.

The SPPF was founded in 1964 by France-Albert René, under the name Seychelles People's United Party, and it has been led by him since its inception. The SPUP/SPPF has been the ruling party since 1977 and was the sole legal party in the country from 1979 to 1991 (this period is referred to retrospectively as the "Second Republic"). The SPPF is led by a Central Executive Committee.

Leading members of the party over the years have been René, James Michel (formerly the chief of staff of the armed forces, information minister, finance minister and vice president from 1996-2004; he is currently the President of Seychelles), Guy Sinon, Jacques Hodoul (a former foreign minister who was regarded as the party's chief ideologue), Joseph Belmont (the current Vice President of Seychelles), and Maxime Ferrari (a former René loyalist who later supported the opposition and wrote an autobiography).

During the era of one-party rule, the party was funded by dues paid by its members and from foreign governments including Tanzania, Algeria, Libya and East Germany.

The party maintains branches in each electoral district and utilizes an extensive system of patronage. At the last elections on 12 May 2007, the party won 56.76 % of the popular vote and 23 out of 34 seats in the National Assembly.

External links

• Seychelles People's Progressive Front
• Website of The People newspaper and SPPF Museum (pro-René; he formerly edited the publication)