Herminie Wins Seychelles Runoff, United Seychelles Takes Presidency

Patrick Herminie defeated incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan in a presidential runoff in Seychelles, winning 52.7 percent of the vote to Ramkalawan’s 47.3, electoral officials announced early Sunday. The decisive second round followed a first-round vote on September 27 in which neither candidate reached the 50 percent threshold, prompting a weekend runoff that most voters cast on Saturday after early voting on Thursday in outlying islands and for special groups.

The result gives Herminie’s United Seychelles party control of the presidency while the party already reclaimed a parliamentary majority in last month’s legislative vote, setting the stage for unified executive and legislative authority. Herminie, who previously served as parliament speaker, addressed supporters at the electoral commission headquarters after the results were declared, saying, “I am deeply humbled for the trust that the people have placed in me. I will be the president of all Seychellois.” Ramkalawan attended the announcement and congratulated Herminie, saying he hoped the new president would maintain a high standard of governance.

Herminie led the first round with about 48.8 percent to Ramkalawan’s 46.4 percent,...