Will MichellLive up to his words

Commentary

Will Michel Live up to his Words?

During the Presidential Election that took place on the 28th, 29th and 30th of July 2006 in Seychelles, the ruling SPPF Party led by President James A. Michel edged the DP/SNP Alliance into first place with a score of 53.73%.

The SPPF may have clung on to power yet again, but all indications are that Michel’s ‘victory’ may not have been a victory for the Seychelles. Already, although he ran on a ticket of having ‘a heart for every Seychellois’ rumours are rife that the party is about to carry out its campaign threat of cleaning the country of ‘serpents’. The economy is about to suffer a similar fate. Having denied that the SPPF will devalue the rupee, Michel’s new government is set to take steps to do just if the IMF annual country report on Seychelles is anything to go by. The result will be more hardship particularly for the same supporters that appear to have voted Michel into office. They may have some respite, though, but only until after the National Assembly elections that are now being planned for as early as October.

The Opposition Alliance added Mont Fleuri and Au cap to its power base, albeit marginally, but they also ‘lost’ Belombre after the Silhouette votes were inexplicably added to the votes of the North Mahé district. Clearly, the Opposition Alliance has the potential of adding the entire North and Central Mahe under its control if its leaders adopt the right strategies for the Assembly elections.

The SSPF, other hand, won majorities in areas in the East, South and West Mahé as well as Praslin and La Digue and the other outer Islands where the Opposition had little or no logistical capacity to penetrate.

Throughout the pre-election campaign, Alliance supporters were high spirited, committed and determined to vote with their hearts and souls for a better Seychelles. Supporters of the ruling Party were relatively subdued, voting for the survival of their “vested privileges” within the SPPF structure and grassroots supporters for the benefits that were on offer rather than with their hearts and souls for a better Seychelles.

On election night, President Michel whose campaign covered more that 18 months of interaction with the population, said that he will be President for all Seychellois and now that he has his own mandate, will thrive for National Unity. Will he live up to his words?

Opposition leader Ramkalawan said that he hopes that President Michel spoke with his heart in which case, he has to recognize and respect the force and vitality behind the Opposition with which he must collaborate and work if National Unity is one of his goals.

The international observers, some of whom have yet to file their report, whilst stating that the election per se has been fair has nonetheless recognized that the political Parties in Seychelles were not playing on a level playing field.

The coming months promises to be interesting times for the Seychelles, in some more so than before the Presidential Elections.

(Contributed)