Patrick Herminie, the leader of the United Seychelles party, has won the presidential election in Seychelles, defeating incumbent President Wavel Ramkalawan in a runoff vote.
According to official results, Herminie secured 52.7% of the vote, while Ramkalawan trailed with 47.3%.
This victory marks a significant shift in the country’s politics, restoring full control of the government to the longtime ruling party.
Herminie, a former parliament speaker, has pledged to lower the retirement age, implement recommendations from a truth and reconciliation commission, and cancel a hotel project that environmentalists say threatens a UNESCO-listed coral atoll.
Seychelles, Africa’s wealthiest country per capita, faces challenges such as climate vulnerability and high per-capita rates of heroin use.
