Seychelles Holds Run-off Election Between Ramkalawan and Herminie

Seychelles held a run-off between President Wavel Ramkalawan and opposition leader Patrick Herminie. Herminie led the first round as his party regained parliament control. Ramkalawan seeks re-election to continue economic recovery, while Herminie promises reforms like lowering retirement age and cancelling a disputed hotel project. Results are expected Sunday.

Voters in Seychelles returned to the polls on Thursday for a run-off between the incumbent president and the leader of the longtime governing party, which has already regained a majority in parliament.

In the first round of the election held last month, Patrick Herminie, a former National Assembly speaker representing the United Seychelles party, led President Wavel Ramkalawan by more than two percentage points, securing 48.8% of the more than 64,000 ballots cast. Ramkalawan told Reuters that he believed the people of Seychelles desired a balance of power that would enable the country to achieve the best outcomes.

Ramkalawan’s Linyon Demokratik Seselwa coalition lost its parliamentary majority in the previous vote, meaning that if he wins the presidency again, he would be leading a divided government. Voting began on Thursday for residents of the outlying islands and for essential workers, while polling stations on the three main islands are scheduled to open on Saturday. The final results are expected to be announced on Sunday.

Ramkalawan, a former Anglican priest, came to power in 2020, marking the first time in Seychelles’ history that a president outside the United Seychelles party—formerly known as the Seychelles People’s Progressive Front—was elected since the coup that followed independence from Britain in 1976.

He has emphasized his leadership in steering the country’s economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic and has stated that he needs a second five-year term to continue strengthening social protection, improving infrastructure, and maintaining Seychelles’ neutrality to attract foreign investment.

Seychelles, the wealthiest country in Africa in terms of per capita income, is an Indian Ocean archipelago spanning over 463,000 square miles (1.1 million sq km). It is known for its vibrant tourism industry and has become a hub for investment and security cooperation with China, Gulf nations, and India. However, despite its economic achievements, the nation of 115 islands faces significant challenges. It is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries and has one of the highest per-capita rates of heroin use globally.

Ramkalawan’s challenger, Patrick Herminie, was arrested in 2023 on charges of witchcraft that were later dropped. He is campaigning to restore United Seychelles’ control of both the presidency and parliament for the first time since 2015. Herminie’s bid has gained momentum through endorsements from candidates eliminated in the first round, including Marco Francis, who secured around 2% of the vote.

At a campaign rally, Herminie expressed confidence in victory, declaring, “We needed just 1% to win State House. That means 500 votes. And today, I’m telling you: we will get those 500 votes and go to State House on October 11.” His campaign promises include lowering the retirement age—which Ramkalawan had previously increased—and cancelling a controversial hotel project that environmentalists claim threatens a UNESCO-listed coral atoll.