Patrick Herminie has been declared the winner of the presidential elections in Seychelles, defeating incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan in a runoff vote, as per official results from the electoral commission. Herminie secured 52.7% of the votes compared to Ramkalawan’s 47.3%.
In his acceptance speech, Herminie pledged to address issues such as the cost of living, enhance public services, and foster unity among the Seychellois people. He remarked that the election outcome symbolizes “a new chapter for all Seychellois.” Following his defeat, Ramkalawan extended his congratulations to Herminie and reflected on his tenure, stating he leaves behind a significant legacy.
The runoff election was necessitated as no candidate achieved an outright majority in the first round held two weeks prior. Herminie, a former parliamentary speaker, faced charges of witchcraft in 2023, which he claimed were politically motivated to hinder his presidential ambitions. These charges were subsequently dropped in 2024, allowing him to pursue his candidacy.
In his victory remarks, Herminie emphasized his intention to be a president for all Seychellois, vowing to eliminate divisions and create equal opportunities for all citizens. His party, United Seychelles (US), had recently regained a strong majority in parliamentary elections, having previously lost control to Ramkalawan’s Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) party. Notably, Ramkalawan’s defeat reflects a trend in Africa, where several incumbents, including Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera, have recently lost elections amid rising public discontent related to the cost of living.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy7p72rj2geo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss