IS JAMES MICHEL KICKING OUT RENE SYMPATHISERS?

A GROUP of SPPF stalwarts have complained that President Michel is distancing himself from the Rene faction within his government. The group who subscribes to the Reneism ideology and who are openly critical of President Michel's policies, have accused him of not showing appreciation and gratitude to the foot soldiers who pound the tarmac and footpaths all over the country to win him votes.

This break away faction has also accused Michel of being more sympathetic to SNP than people of his own party. They also resent the rapprochement between Michel and Ramkalawan - something which Rene refused to contemplate when he was President. One hard core SPPF loyalist stated that Michel “is sleeping with the enemy” and he will get a nasty surprise at the Congress on 7th June 2008, when Rene is expected to read the Riot Act to the delegates.

Michel, who have appointed a series of fresh faces in his cabinet and elsewhere after he took over the Presidency from President Rene in April 2004, has shown indifference to the Rene element in the party. He is known to have asked Rene to sack Ministers like William Herminie, Dolor Ernesta, and Simone Decomarmond as a pre-condition for taking over the Presidency. Recently, Michel himself has sacked Minister Sylvette Pool, Mrs. Florence  Benstrong (Mayor of Victoria) and France Bonte, the erstwhile Chairman of the Constitutional Appointment Authority (CAA), all known Rene supporters. However, Michel has shown a clear inability to reign in people like Francis Chang-Leng, Joel Morgan, the Savy brothers and Rene himself.

Political pundits have argued that Michel is caught between a rock and a hard place. His inability to be ruthless and decisive may end up costing him the presidency. Michel, who is clearly not well versed in the political art of Machiavellian politics like his predecessor Albert Rene, has shown what may be perceived as political weakness and inexperience.

Whether he will survive the impending pitfalls on the long march towards the 2011 presidential elections is yet to be seen. Although he is perceived as the architect who masterminded the devaluation of the rupee, the increase in the cost of utilities, such as water and electricity, the spiraling cost of living, fuel, gas, road tax to name a few, many see these as necessary evil to save the country from total collapse. However, others are also pointing the finger at Michel as the culprit responsible for the hardships that the population is going through at the moment rather than catastrophes inherited from Rene which were bound to happen anyway. Either way Michel's hands are literally tied behind his back and with little room to manoeuvre. He may very well suffer the coup de grâce sooner than we think!

May 23, 2008
Copyright 2007: Seychelles Weekly, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles