2015 Seychellois presidential election
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Presidential elections were held in Seychelles between 3 and 5 December 2015. As no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the first round, a second round was held between 16 and 18 December.[1] Incumbent President James Michel was re-elected, defeating opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan by just 193 votes in the second round. Ramkalawan claimed there had been "many irregularities", including vote buying.[2]
Background
The elections were initially scheduled to take place between 19 and 21 November 2015, but were moved "to give more time to political parties to prepare for the elections".[3]
Campaign
The official nomination process closed on 11 November 2015. In October 2015 incumbent President James Michel of the People's Party announced his intention to run for re-election for a third and final term. Since the re-introduction of democracy in 1993,[4] candidates from the People's Party have won all presidential and parliamentary elections in Seychelles.[3]
Alexia Amesbury, leader of the Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy, was the first woman to contest a presidential election in Seychelles.[1]
Results
Michel fell short of a majority in the first round, receiving about 48% of the vote, and therefore a second round was required. The second place candidate, long-time opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan, received the support of third place candidate Patrick Pillay for the second round.[5]
Michel won the second round by a very small margin, beating Ramkalawan by only 193 votes, according to results announced by the electoral commission on 19 December 2015. Ramkalawan disputed the results and requested a recount. Michel was sworn in on 20 December.[6]
| Candidate | Party | First round | Second round | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| James Michel | People's Party | 28,911 | 47.76 | 31,512 | 50.15 |
| Wavel Ramkalawan | Seychelles National Party | 21,391 | 35.33 | 31,319 | 49.85 |
| Patrick Pillay | Lalyans Seselwa | 8,593 | 14.19 | ||
| Alexia Amesbury | Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy | 832 | 1.37 | ||
| Philippe Boullé | Independent | 411 | 0.68 | ||
| David Pierre | Popular Democratic Movement | 400 | 0.66 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,466 | – | 1,062 | – | |
| Total | 62,004 | 100 | 63,893 | 100 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 70,943 | 87.40 | 70,943 | 90.06 | |
| Source: ECS | |||||
References
- ^ a b "Seychelles presidential race heading for run-off within 14 days - no candidate wins absolute majority after 'highly contested'", Seychelles News Agency, 6 December 2015.
- ^ "Seychelles president re-elected, opposition cries foul", Reuters, 19 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Presidential elections in Seychelles rescheduled for December 3rd to 5th". Seychelles News Agency. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
- ^ "Elections in Seychelles". africanelections.tripod.com. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
- ^ "Seychelles votes in presidential run-off", Agence France-Presse, 17 December 2015.
- ^ "Seychelles leader sworn in despite contested win", Agence France-Presse, 20 December 2015.
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