• Patrick Herminie wins the presidency with 52.7% of the vote, defeating incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan.
• Herminie pledges to stabilize the economy, lower living costs, and restore public trust within his first 100 days.
• The election took place amid slowing GDP growth (2.9% in 2024) and economic dependence on tourism, according to the IMF.

Opposition leader Patrick Herminie won the Seychelles presidential election, defeating incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan in a tight runoff, the country’s Electoral Commission announced on Sunday. Herminie will serve a five-year term.

Herminie, candidate of the United Seychelles Party, secured 52.7% of votes, while Ramkalawan, from the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS), obtained 47.3%. The result ends Ramkalawan’s administration and returns United Seychelles to power.

“This victory is not that of a single party, but a call to serve, to act, and to restore dignity and hope for every Seychellois,” Herminie’s party said in a statement. “Despite our differences, our common goal remains the well-being of our people.”

Herminie pledged to stabilize the economy, reduce the cost of living, and rebuild public confidence during his first 100 days in office. The country faces persistent socio-economic strains, including inflationary pressures, heroin dependency, and controversy over a real estate project on Assumption Island.

The 63-year-old former Speaker of the National Assembly (2007–2016) had faced witchcraft charges in 2023, which he denounced as a politically motivated attempt to derail his ambitions. Authorities dropped all charges in 2024.

From September 25 to 27, 2025, Seychelles held combined presidential and parliamentary elections. Herminie led the first round with 48.8% of votes, and his party also won a majority in the National Assembly.

The Seychelles economy has shown uneven recovery following the pandemic. According to the African Development Bank, real GDP growth slowed from 15% in 2022 to 2.5% in 2023. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated 2.9% growth in 2024, citing weaker tourism activity. Inflation remained moderate, and tighter fiscal discipline resulted from lower-than-expected capital spending.

For 2025, the IMF projects 3.2% GDP growth, driven by gradual tourism recovery and improved fiscal management.

This article was initially published in French by Lydie Mobio

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum