New Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform (beta)

Your one-stop-shop for information about national parliaments

The Seychelles Democratic Alliance (Lalyans Demokratik Seselwa, LDS, see note) - a new four-party coalition led by Mr. Roger Mancienne - won the elections, thereby ousting President James Michel's Seychelles People's Progressive Front (Parti Lepep, SPPF), in power since the country's independence in 1977. The LDS included the Seychelles National Party (SNP), which had boycotted the 2011 elections. The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), the sole opposition in the outgoing legislature, failed to retain its seat. During the election campaign, the LDS promised a change in governance, pledging to establish a government which is more open to the people. The SPPF ran on the government's record. The 2016 parliamentary elections followed closely-run presidential elections in December 2015. President James Michel secured a third term as president, with a 193-vote margin in the second round of voting over Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan (SNP), who was backed by the LDS. Note: The LDS comprised the Seychelles National Party (SNP), Lalyans Seselwa (Seychellois Alliance), the Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy (SPSD) and the Seselwa United Party (SUP). The four parties fielded separate candidates in the first round of the 2015 presidential elections but backed Mr. Ramkalawan (SNP) as their joint candidate in the run-offs. Note on the statutory number of the National Assembly: On 16 June 2016, the National Assembly voted to amend the law on elections to create a new constituency in Ile Perseverance, which was to become the 26th constituency. That would have increased the total number of members to a maximum of 36 (including up to 10 seats allotted under the proportional representation system). Eligible voters there were to vote twice: once during the 2016 elections in their previous constituency, and again in 2017 in the new constituency. On 2 September, the Constitutional Court nullified the provision that would have allowed them to vote in 2017 and postponed the elections in Ile Perseverance until the next elections due in 2021. Consequently, the number of members elected under the First Past The Post system will remain at 25 for the legislature elected in 2016 and the National Assembly will comprise a maximum of 35 members. Following the 2016 elections, eight compensatory seats were allotted (four each to the LDS and SPPF), bringing the total number of members in the 2016 legislature to 33.