Opposition leader Patrick Herminie has won the presidential election in Seychelles, defeating incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan in a runoff, according to official results released early Sunday. Herminie secured 52.7% of the vote to Ramkalawan’s 47.3%, returning the United Seychelles party to the presidency five years after it lost power.
“The people have spoken,” Herminie said after being declared president-elect. “I am deeply humbled by the trust the people have placed in me, and I formally accept this mandate with gratitude, a profound sense of duty and an unshakeable faith in the strength and character of the Seychellois people.”
The runoff followed a first round two weeks ago in which no candidate achieved an outright majority. Early voting began Thursday, with most ballots cast on Saturday across the Indian Ocean archipelago of 115 islands.
Herminie, a former speaker of the National Assembly (2007–2016), campaigned on restoring social stability and strengthening public services, while pledging to work “collaboratively and constructively” with lawmakers to deliver results. United Seychelles — which governed from 1977 to 2020 — also emphasized economic inclusion alongside the country’s high-end tourism model.
Ramkalawan, of the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS), had sought a second term after his historic 2020 victory ended United Seychelles’ four-decade rule. His campaign focused on governance reforms and fiscal prudence but faced growing discontent over cost-of-living pressures and environmental concerns.
Key issues dominated the tightly fought race:
- Environment & land use: A government decision to lease 100 acres on Assomption Island to a Qatari firm for a luxury resort — including an airstrip rebuild — triggered lawsuits and protests from activists who said it privileged foreign interests and risked ecological harm.
- Drug addiction crisis: Seychelles, often showcased as a luxury eco-destination and among Africa’s richest by GDP per capita, is grappling with one of the world’s highest rates of heroin addiction, according to international assessments. Both candidates promised tougher interdictions and expanded treatment and rehabilitation.
- Climate vulnerability: Rising sea levels and coastal erosion remain existential threats for the low-lying islands, sharpening debates over development and resilience spending.
Herminie’s victory reshapes the political map and sets up a delicate transition after a competitive campaign. He inherits a tourism-dependent economy still sensitive to global shocks, alongside urgent social challenges at home. In his remarks, the president-elect signaled he would seek a broad governing consensus in parliament to accelerate policy delivery.
The electoral commission is expected to publish final tallies and turnout figures in the coming days. A swearing-in date has yet to be announced.
