Government and Politics of Seychelles

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe), Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Legal System

based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Seychelles dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 22-24 October 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: Wavel RAMKALAWAN elected president; percent of vote - Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 54.9%, Danny FAURE (US) 43.5%, other candidates 1.6%; the 2020 election marked a historic transfer of power, ending nearly five decades of uninterrupted rule by the People's Party (formerly SPPF) and its predecessors

Legislative Branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats - 25 elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 4-6 December 2002 (next to be held in December 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 54.3%, SNP 42.6%, DP 3.1%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11

Judicial Branch

Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Political Parties

Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Daniel BELLE]; Mouvement Seychellois pour la Democratie [Jacques HODOUL]; Seychelles National Party or SNP (formerly the United Opposition or UO) [Wavel RAMKALAWAN]; Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [France Albert RENE, James MICHEL] - the governing party

Head of State

President James Alix Michel

Head of Government

President James Alix Michel

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held on 28-30 July 2006 (next to be held in 2011)

Election Results

President James MICHEL elected president; percent of vote - James MICHEL 53.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 45.7%, Philippe BOULLE 0.6%; note - this was the first election in which President James MICHEL participated; he was originally sworn in as president after former president France Albert RENE stepped down in April 2004

Constitution

18-Jun-93

Independence

29 June 1976 (from UK)

National Holiday

Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Jeremie BONNELAME chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785 FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to the Seychelles

Capital City

Victoria

Location

4 37 S, 55 27 E

Time Difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

founded as L'etablissement in 1778 by French colonists, the town was renamed in 1841 by the British after Queen VICTORIA (1819-1901); "victoria" is the Latin word for "victory"

U.S. Embassy Mauritius Rogers House on John F. Kennedy Street in Port Louis, Mauritius, 4th floor Emergency after-hours telephone: ( 230) 5 253-3641 Telephone: ( 230) 202-4400 Facsimile: ( 230) 208-9534 Email: ptlconsular@state.gov U.S. Consular Agency Seychelles Suite 23, 2nd floor, Oliaji Trade Centre, Victoria, Seychelles Emergency after-hours telephone at U.S. Embassy in Port Louis: ( 230) 5 253-3641 Telephone: (248) 422-5256 Facsimile: (248) 422-5189 Email: usconsular@seychelles.net

Military Branches

Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing, Air Wing), National Guard

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription