Seychelles: Seychelles Government Profile

President: James Michel James

Michel succeeded France Albert Rene, who led the country for almost three decades before stepping down in April 2004.

In July 2006 Mr Michel won a five-year term in presidential elections, and a new term in polls in May 2011.

A former vice president, he had served alongside Mr Rene since 1977, at the same time as a bloodless coup brought the long-term leader to power.

Mr Michel pledged to hold a additional open dialogue and to involve the private sector in the deficit-ridden national economy. Some analysts have praised him for executing long-needed but painful reforms to liberalise the economy.

Mr Michel, a former teacher, entered politics in 1974. He had a 16-year military career and retired from the armed forces in 1993 with the rank of colonel.

The president is the chief of national and appoints the Council of Ministers - an advisory body. Most members of the legislative body, the national assembly, are due elected. Mr Michel as well holds the defence, police, data, and risk and disaster management portfolios.

In the 2006 elections he gained nearly 54% of the vote compared with the almost 46% won by Anglican priest Wavel Ramkalawan. In the 2001 polls Mr Ramkalawan won 45% compared with Rene's 54%.

In the May 2007 elections, the Seychelles People's Progressive Front retained all 23 out of the 34 seats in the national assembly. The opposition Seychelles National Party (SNP) took the remaining 11 seats.

In the May 2011 polls Mr Michel won 55% of the vote, avoiding a second round run-off against his closest rival, Mr Ramkalawan, who polled 41 % of the ballots cast.

Under the constitution of 5 June 1979, the president was the chief of national. Nominated by party, the president ran for election unopposed. Legislative power was vested in the People's Assembly, which consists of 34 members, 25 representing constituencies and 9 seats allocated by proportional representation based on the party inventory system. Electoral candidates were chosen in primaries by SPPF members from up to three in each constituency nominated by the SPPF Central Executive Committee of each constituency. The president selected the cabinet members.

The June 1993 constitution called for multi-party elections of a president and a National Assembly of 33 members, 22 due elected and 11 allocated on a proportional basis. The new constitution guarantees extensive political and civil liberties. But it as well allows the curtailment of freedom of expression in order to protect "the reputation, rights, and freedoms of private lives of persons." This is a thinly veiled limitation on the freedom of the press.

In 1996, the SPPF successfully introduced constitutional changes inclunding the enlargement of the National Assembly to 35, with 10 members to be chosen by proportional representation, party inventory and creation of the post for a vice president. In 1998, the United Opposition (UO) boycotted the National Assembly meetings protesting the SPPF's increased undemocratic behavior. Instantly, the National Assembly comprises 34 seats, 25 elected by popular vote and 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the vote.

The next presidential elections are scheduled for 2006, and parliamentary elections are scheduled for 2007. Members of the National Assembly serve five-year terms.