Wavel Ramkalawan
Wavel Ramkalawan | |
---|---|
President of Seychelles | |
Assumed office 26 October 2020 | |
Vice President | Ahmed Afif |
Preceded by | Danny Faure |
Personal details | |
Born | Mahé, Colony of Seychelles | 15 March 1959
Political party | Linyon Demokratik Seselwa |
Spouse | Linda Ramkalawan |
Children | Three |
Alma mater | St Paul's Theological College University of Birmingham |
Wavel Ramkalawan (born 15 March 1959) is a Seychellois politician and
Early life
Wavel Ramkalawan was born in
Entry into politics
In 1990, Ramkalawan came to prominence when he preached a sermon, broadcast on the
Opposition leader
When the government, facing both domestic and international pressure, returned the country to
In 1998, Ramkalawan led his party into the second multi-party general elections.[7] The party polled 27% of the national vote[8] and increased its National Assembly representation to three, beating the Democratic Party of former President James Mancham into third place. Ramkalawan became the first directly elected member of the party in the Assembly, winning his home constituency of St Louis, which he has represented continuously since. In addition, he succeeded Mancham as Leader of the Opposition, a post he continued to hold until 2020.[8]
In the
In 2005, Ramkalawan took a sabbatical from his clerical duties in order to devote himself fully to his political life; he considered this time to be a crucial and important point in the country's affairs.[10] However, Ramkalawan lost to James Michel in the 2006 and 2011 presidential elections. Along with other major opposition parties, Ramakalawan and his party boycotted the 2011 parliamentary elections.[11]
In the 2015 election, Ramkalawan and Michel advanced to a runoff election, which was the first runoff presidential election in Seychelles. Ramkalawan lost with 49.85% of the vote and a 193 votes difference to his opponent Michel.[12]
President
In the
On 4 November 2020, the additional portfolios of Defence, Legal Affairs, Public Administration, National Planning and National Security were assigned to Ramkalawan.[16]
References
- ^ "Seychelles leader visits Bihar, the land of his ancestors who migrated to work as plantation workers". Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Up Close…with Wavel Ramkalawan, politician, priest and family person". Seychelles Nation via Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Konn ou Kandida -Mr Wavel Ramkalawan" (in French). SBC News. 25 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ "Seychelles: (a) Whether young men are particularly targeted by police if suspected of government opposition; (b) how they are generally treated by police if suspected; (c) what recourses are available to such suspects; and (d) whether it is normal to impose a six o'clock curfew on these suspects". Refworld. Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. 1 June 1991. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ a b U.S. Library of Congress. "Opposition Movements and Interest Groups". Country Studies. Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ a b "National Assembly elections in the Third Republic". Seychelles Nation. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Wavel Ramkalawan wins Presidency of Seychelles unseating incumbent in his 6th run for top office". Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ a b United States Central Intelligence Agency. "The World Factbook 1998 part 38 out of 51". Fullbooks. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Seychelles Histoire". Petit Fute (in French). Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "The reverend and the election". Africa Intelligence. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Opposition says will boycott National Assembly - Archive - Seychelles Nation". www.nation.sc. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "James Michel secures third term winning 50.15 percent votes in Seychelles presidential run-off". Seychelles News Agency. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Seychelles opposition wins presidency for first time in 43 years". Reuters. 25 October 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ "Upset in Seychelles presidential election as incumbent loses". Associated Press. 25 October 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
- ^ "Seychelles election: Wavel Ramkalawan in landmark win". BBC News. 25 October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "President Ramkalawan unveils new cabinet". Seychelles Nation. Retrieved 5 November 2020.