Patrick Herminie defeats incumbent to win Seychelles presidential election

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Opposition candidate Patrick Herminie has been elected the sixth president of Seychelles after winning Saturday’s run-off election with more than half the vote, official results showed Sunday.

Herminie, leader of the United Seychelles party, received 52.7% of the vote, defeating incumbent President Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychellois Democratic Alliance, who garnered 47.3%, according to the country’s electoral commission.

In his victory address, Herminie said he was deeply humbled by the people’s trust and pledged to lower the cost of living, strengthen public services, and promote national unity.

“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,” he said after being declared the winner.

Herminie, 62, previously served as speaker of the National Assembly from 2007 to 2016.

The run-off election was conducted between the two leading contenders after they both failed to secure an outright majority in the presidential vote last month.

Outgoing President Ramkalawan congratulated Herminie on his victory.