The Seychelles Archipelago, on Sunday, experienced a seismic shift of political power with the election as president of opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan, who polled 54.9 percent of the vote.
It was the sixth shot at the presidency for the 59-year-old Anglican pastor, who is elected for five years as head state for less than 100,000 inhabitants.
He won the presidential election ahead of outgoing president Danny Faure who had managed 43.5 percent of the ballot.
The election of Ramkalawan, the candidate of the Seychellois Democratic Union brings to an end 40 years of political dominance by the Lepep (The people in Creole) which had ruled the country since independence.
Seychelles’s new man in charge is also basking in the triumph of the opposition who won the legislative elections held at the same time, securing 25 seats, or two-thirds of the parliament.
Danny Faure conceded defeat and wished the victor “good luck”.
The newly elected president takes the oath of office on Monday.
CD/fss/as/APA