On October 12, 2025, Patrick Herminie won the Seychelles Election 2025 presidential runoff. He secured 52.7% of votes, defeating incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan’s 47.3%.
Opposition Triumphs
Herminie, from the United Seychelles party, ended Ramkalawan’s Linyon Demokratik Seselwa rule. The party governed from 1977 to 2020, marking a return after five years.
Herminie’s Acceptance
“The people have spoken,” Herminie said after the Seychelles Election 2025 results. He accepted the mandate with gratitude and commitment to the nation’s 100,000 citizens.
Legislative Support
Herminie noted his party’s parliamentary majority. “This allows collaborative work for better outcomes,” he stated, promising focus on key issues post-Seychelles Election 2025.
Runoff Necessity
No candidate won the first round two weeks earlier. Thus, the Seychelles Election 2025 runoff decided the presidency, with early voting on Thursday and main voting Saturday.
Campaign Priorities
Both candidates addressed environmental damage and drug addiction. Seychelles, a tourist paradise, relies on luxury travel, but faces rising sea levels and heroin issues.
Economic Vulnerabilities
Seychelles boasts high GDP per capita, yet environmental threats loom. The Seychelles Election 2025 highlighted the need for sustainable tourism and addiction recovery.
Opposition Gains
Recent months saw growing discontent with Ramkalawan’s party. The Seychelles Election 2025 reflected demands for change amid economic and social pressures.
Lease Controversy
A week before the first round, activists sued over a 400,000-square-meter lease on Assomption Island to a Qatari firm for a luxury hotel. Critics feared foreign dominance.
Climate and Drug Crises
Rising seas threaten Seychelles, a small island nation. Meanwhile, heroin addiction surges, straining resources. The Seychelles Election 2025 addressed these dual threats.
Path to Progress
Herminie’s win signals hope for reforms. Thus, the Seychelles Election 2025 paves the way for tackling environmental and social issues in 2025.