Seychelles: Early Presidential Elections in 2001

Extracted from: "Seychelles" IN Compendium of Elections in Southern Africa (2002), edited by Tom Lodge, Denis Kadima and David Pottie, EISA, 281-282.

In July 2001, President René called for early presidential elections. René's second five-year term under multiparty elections was originally scheduled to end in Apri1 2001 but an early election call would enable the president to start a new five-year term if elected. This term would be his last. The Seychelles constitution permits an early election call by "requesting the people of Seychelles for a mandate to another term in office by elections". Renés bid was supported by a unanimous endorsement at a July SPFF [Seychelles People's Progressive Front] party congress. Therefore, presidential elections were held from 31 August to 2 September 2001.

Both the SPFF and the SNP [Seychelles National Party] released comprehensive programmes in manifestos for the presidential race. The SPFF issued a manifesto that promised to build on the safeguarding of education, health, welfare and employment. Tourism, fishing and agriculture were to be key sources of job creation. Where the SPFF emphasised the enduring role of government in many of these policy areas, the SNP prioritised the development of private sector and entrepreneurial activity as the means to safeguard the future. For the SNP Seychelles required a plan to relaunch the economy that would involve privatisation, the end of foreign exchange controls and attracting more investment. Furthemore, the SNF sought to reshape the public sector and strengthen democracy away from party control through the creation of a state tender board, an independent public media, an independent electoral commission and so on. A total of 59 994 voters were registered for the 2001 presidential elections with a total of 50 238 valid votes cast.

There were only two main candidates in the election. President René was re-elected with 27 223 votes, or 54.19% support (see 2001 Presidential election results). While this level of popular support marks a decline from his two previous presidential election victories, his rival, Wavel Rarnkalawan of the SNP came second with 22 581 votes or 44.85% support. Phillipe Boulle, standing this time as an independent candidate, came a distant third, with only 434 votes or 0.86% support.