Seychelles is set for a run-off on 16-18 December after no presidential candidate amassed enough votes to be declared outright winner following elections held in early December. According to final results announced by the island nation’s Electoral Commission, incumbent President James Michel of the Parti Lepep and Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychelles National Party led the first round of presidential polls, with 47.76 and 33.93 percent of the vote, respectively. The President in Seychelles is elected by an absolute majority vote to serve a five-year term. However, if no candidate receives at least 50 percent plus one vote, a second round of voting is conducted involving the top two contestants, and the winner of this round is declared elected.
In this regard, Michel and Ramkalawan who both failed to garner the required absolute majority will face each other in the run-off on 16-18 December.
This is the first time since 1993 when the country re-introduced multiparty politics that the island nation is going for a second round of voting as the ruling Parti Lepep has won every presidential election in the first round since then.
A total of six candidates took part in the presidential elections held on 3-5 December.
Full Article: Seychelles Set for Run-Off After Inconclusive Presidential Poll – allAfrica.com.