Seychelles' parliament approves constitutional amendment on elections

The National Assembly of Seychelles has approved an 11th amendment to the Constitution on Wednesday afternoon, which seeks to enhance and clarify various provisions related to the election and tenure of the President and the National Assembly. The Bill was presented to the National Assembly on Tuesday by Vice President Ahmed Afif, and after two days of debate, 24 members of the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) ruling party voted for the amendment. All members of the United Seychelles (US), the main opposition party, voted against it. The Bill proposed a fixed date for the Presidential election, ensuring it is held, five weeks prior to the expiration of the President's term. The amendment aims to provide sufficient time for a possible second round of elections and to facilitate a smooth transition of power. It also proposed that elections for the National Assembly be held on the same day as the Presidential election and the change aims to streamline the electoral process and ensure consistency in the timing of elections. In the amendment, Article 52A, which allows the President to resign during his or her term and seek a fresh mandate from the electorate, is repealed and it aligns with the commitment to fixed-term elections and prevents the President from calling for an early election. The Bill also provided clear and detailed procedures for addressing a vacancy in the office of the President, whether due to resignation, removal, death, or incapacity. It ensures that the Vice-President assumes the role of President in specific circumstances and clarifies the limitations of their powers during this interim period.
Read the full article here: Seychelles News Agency