Seychelles: 1992/3 Constitutional reform

Updated April 2007

Extracted from: LODGE, T, KADIMA, D & POTTIE, D (eds) 2002 Compendium of Elections in Southern Africa, EISA, 280-281.

Elections for a commission to draft a new constitution took place in July 1992. Thanks to its rural constituencies liking for [President] René's cradle-to-grave welfare system, the SPPF [the ruling Seychelles People's Progressive Front] received 58.4% of the votes, giving it 15 representatives. The NDP [New Democratic Party] (now renamed the Democratic Party, DP) secured 33.7% and eight representatives. The PS [Parti Seselwa] with 4.4% of the votes, got only one representative, while the five other parties, with a total of 3.6%, gained no representation. A turnout of 84% was recorded. The opposition was disadvantaged in that exiles, estimated at up to 15 000, were not allowed to vote, but all the international observer groups declared that the poll had been free and fair.

When the draft constitution, which required the approval of at least 60 per cent of the voters, was endorsed by only 53.7% in the November 1992 referendum, a second commission was created. This submitted its thoroughly revised proposals, to another referendum on 18 June 1993. The proposals were approved by 73.9%, and followed by presidential and legislative elections in July 1993.