Seychelles

National Assembly

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
08.09.2016 to 10.09.2016
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
31.10.2025
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
33
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
76
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
56
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
20
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
26.32%
Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
3

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
71,932
Votes Number of people who actually voted
62,939
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
87.5%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
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.
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
2
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
66.67%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
57.58%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
No
Note on the alternation of power
The Seychelles Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, LDS) won the parliamentary elections, but the Seychelles People's Progressive Front (Parti Lepep, SPPF) still holds the Executive power.
Number of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
1
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
Seychelles People's Progressive Front (Parti Lepep, SPPF)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total Majority Proportional
Seychelles Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, LDS) 19 15 4
Seychelles People's Progressive Front (Parti Lepep, SPPF) 14 10 4
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
26
Number of women elected
7
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
21.21%
Sources
National Assembly (22.09.2016, 01.06.2017)
Seychelles News Agency
African Union
Women Directly Elected
7

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
26
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
7
First-term parliamentarians The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
30
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
27.09.2016
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Melissa Kaminker (Male)
Political party
Seychelles Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, LDS)
Date of election
27.09.2016