Opposition leader Patrick Herminie has been elected president of Seychelles, defeating incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan in a closely watched runoff. Official results show Herminie secured 52.7% of the vote, marking a return to power for his United Seychelles party, which governed for over four decades prior to 2020. The president-elect has pledged to serve with gratitude and a commitment to national unity. Herminie, who previously served as speaker of the national assembly, will work with a parliamentary majority to address pressing issues such as environmental degradation and a growing heroin addiction crisis. The election followed a heated campaign marked by debates over the government’s decision to lease land to foreign developers, which critics argued favors foreign interests.
AP