SEYCHELLES: Ruling party politicians use May Day celebrations to start campaigns for an upcoming Parliamentary elections

Record ID: 345738

  • Title: SEYCHELLES: Ruling party politicians use May Day celebrations to start campaigns for an upcoming Parliamentary elections
  • Date: 7th May 2007
  • Summary: PEOPLE DANCING IN THE CROWD
  • Embargoed: 22nd May 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Seychelles
  • Country: Seychelles
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6TVM6FLRYNSR4M1Y7IMF65XK3
  • Story Text: Ruling party politicians in the Seychelles using May Day celebrations to start campaigns for an upcoming election that is likely to focus on economic improvements.

    The Seychelles is considered by most visitors to be one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Surrounded by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, the tropical paradise of 115 islands has long been a playground for the rich and famous.
    Now the country is preparing for May elections after Seychelles President, James Michel dissolved parliament in March, clearing the way for new elections after months of opposition boycotts of the assembly.
    On Tuesday (May 1), the ruling Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF) used May Day to hold political rallies and generate support for SPPF candidates across the archipelago.
    The SPPF, a socialist party has been in power since independence in 1976.
    Thousands of their supporters dressed in red, the party's colour, and gathered at the popular beach to listen to bands and speeches, dance and picnic in the intense heat at Port Launey, a beach on the south coast of the main Island of Mahe.
    Michel attended with his wife and the former president, France Albert Rene, who led the country from independence until 2004, when the country became a multi-party state for the first time.
    Opposition leaders call the socialist identity of the SPPF into question. Taking on the role of the "People's Party" remains a strong campaigning point for Michel.
    "The SPPF is the right party for our life in this little country, they have done a lot of work for this thirty years and I hope they will continue," said Maxwell Ranel, a SPPF supporter.
    Michel won the country's most recent Presidential elections in October 2006 with 54% of the vote, campaigning on social issues, promising to maintain the low rate of unemployment and increase social housing. Opposition parties contested the results but were defeated in the constitutional courts.
    Despite its travel brochure image of palm-fringed beaches, the Seychelles has struggled to emerge from recession.
    But economic reforms in the past several years have begun to make a difference and Michel has forecast economic growth of more than 5 percent in 2007 and 2008. The central bank has projected economic growth of 7.5 percent this year.
    "Today makes me proud and happy to be here and see the pride in all the people who have come," said Michel.
    Michel also called for the opposition to work within parliament to help develop the country.
    "There is so much waiting for this country to move, to move ahead, that we cannot wait for an irresponsible opposition who instead of working in Parliament, go and create violence and havoc on the streets. There is a need for the people to form, there was a need for mew to go back to the people and say look here, we cannot tolerate that please give me a new parliament with which I can work to bring the Seychelles forward," he said.
    It is generally accepted that the boycott has allowed the government to hold elections before economic reforms that will raise taxes and further devalue the country's troubled currency, come into effect.
    The Seychelles will go to the poles on the 10th, 11th and 12th of May. Three days of voting are designed to give people on the Seychelles 115 islands the opportunity to vote.
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