James Michel
Encyclopedia
Colonel
James Alix Michel (born August 16, 1944) is a Seychellois politician who has been President of Seychelles since April 16, 2004. He previously served as Vice-President under his predecessor, France-Albert René
, from 1996 to 2004. He began as a teacher, but became involved in the archipelago's booming tourism
industry and joined René's political party before independence in 1976.
Michel followed President René through different political posts during all periods of the Seychelles' history as an independent entity. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Seychelles People's United Party from 1974 to 1977; subsequently, when the party was transformed into the Seychelles People's Progressive Front
(SPPF), he became a member of its Central Executive Committee. René staged a coup against the country's first President, James Mancham
, only one year after independence, and Michel was appointed as Minister of Public Administration and Information in June 1977. During the 1977–1993 one-party socialist dictatorship
, Michel held various ruling party and ministerial portfolios. In 1984 he became the SPPF's Deputy Secretary-General, and in 1994 he became its Secretary-General.
During the rule of President René, Michel was the head of the Seychellois economy
on several occasions. In these 27 years, the Seychelles has experienced an economic boom based on its tourism
and fishery
sectors. This, according to the opposition, has been jeopardised during the last few years due to an accumulated budget deficit.
Michel played a role in the country's democratisation process, which started with multi-party elections in 1993. However, Seychelles still suffers from limited freedom and transparency of the press and, according to the opposition, rigged elections. According to official results, President René and his Seychelles People's Progressive Front
party won presidential and legislative elections in 2001 and 2002 respectively, with about 54% of the vote in both cases.
After serving as Vice-President for nearly eight years, beginning in August 1996, Michel became President in April 2004, when René stepped down. At that point, Michel was René's longest-serving cabinet minister. As President, he currently holds the portfolios of Defence, Police, Information, and Risk & Disaster Management.
Seychelles' opposition leader, Wavel Ramkalawan
, has expressed increased concern over the negative trends in the national economy and demanded more dialogue with the ruling party. The leader of the Seychelles National Party
furthermore said that he would be cooperating with President Michel.
Michel won the presidential election of July 28–30, 2006, taking 53.7% of the vote. He was sworn in for his new term on August 1, 2006.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
James Alix Michel (born August 16, 1944) is a Seychellois politician who has been President of Seychelles since April 16, 2004. He previously served as Vice-President under his predecessor, France-Albert René
France-Albert René
France-Albert René was the long-time socialist President of Seychelles from 1977 to 2004. He is known by government officials and party members as "the Boss". His name is often given as simply Albert René or F.A...
, from 1996 to 2004. He began as a teacher, but became involved in the archipelago's booming tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
industry and joined René's political party before independence in 1976.
Michel followed President René through different political posts during all periods of the Seychelles' history as an independent entity. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Seychelles People's United Party from 1974 to 1977; subsequently, when the party was transformed into the Seychelles People's Progressive Front
Seychelles People's Progressive Front
The People's Party is a socialist political party in Seychelles. It publishes a newspaper called The People. It was known as the Seychelles People's Progressive Front until June 2009....
(SPPF), he became a member of its Central Executive Committee. René staged a coup against the country's first President, James Mancham
James Mancham
Sir James Richard Marie Mancham KBE was the first President of Seychelles from 1976 to 1977.-Political background:...
, only one year after independence, and Michel was appointed as Minister of Public Administration and Information in June 1977. During the 1977–1993 one-party socialist dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
, Michel held various ruling party and ministerial portfolios. In 1984 he became the SPPF's Deputy Secretary-General, and in 1994 he became its Secretary-General.
During the rule of President René, Michel was the head of the Seychellois economy
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
on several occasions. In these 27 years, the Seychelles has experienced an economic boom based on its tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and fishery
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
sectors. This, according to the opposition, has been jeopardised during the last few years due to an accumulated budget deficit.
Michel played a role in the country's democratisation process, which started with multi-party elections in 1993. However, Seychelles still suffers from limited freedom and transparency of the press and, according to the opposition, rigged elections. According to official results, President René and his Seychelles People's Progressive Front
Seychelles People's Progressive Front
The People's Party is a socialist political party in Seychelles. It publishes a newspaper called The People. It was known as the Seychelles People's Progressive Front until June 2009....
party won presidential and legislative elections in 2001 and 2002 respectively, with about 54% of the vote in both cases.
After serving as Vice-President for nearly eight years, beginning in August 1996, Michel became President in April 2004, when René stepped down. At that point, Michel was René's longest-serving cabinet minister. As President, he currently holds the portfolios of Defence, Police, Information, and Risk & Disaster Management.
Seychelles' opposition leader, Wavel Ramkalawan
Wavel Ramkalawan
Wavel Ramkalawan is a politician of the Seychelles.-Early life:Wavel Ramkalawan was born in Mahé, the principal island of Seychelles. He was born into a modest family, the youngest of three children. His father was a metalworker and his mother a teacher...
, has expressed increased concern over the negative trends in the national economy and demanded more dialogue with the ruling party. The leader of the Seychelles National Party
Seychelles National Party
The Seychelles National Party is a liberal political party in Seychelles. Its followers emphasize active multiparty democracy, respect for human rights and liberal economic reforms. It was founded in response to what it called the "totalitarian regime" of former President France-Albert René...
furthermore said that he would be cooperating with President Michel.
Michel won the presidential election of July 28–30, 2006, taking 53.7% of the vote. He was sworn in for his new term on August 1, 2006.