SEYCHELLES: Seychelles president James Michel was re-elected yesterday in a close presidential race that extended his party's 30-year rule, prompting wild celebrations among his supporters in the Indian Ocean islands.
"I'm very happy. It's a victory for me and a consolidation. This is a mandate to continue the work that I have started," said Mr Michel.
Seychellois cast their ballots on Sunday on the last day of a vote dominated by concerns over economic growth and a shortage of foreign currency on the archipelago of 81,000, famed as a paradise of white sands, palm trees and coral reefs.
After a tight race that many thought would be too close to call, feisty opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan's Seychelles National Party conceded defeat.
"They voted me back in because they have seen what I've done. The economy is picking up, there are more opportunities for business and employment," Mr Michel said.
Mr Michel's supporters broke into song and dance in the early hours of yesterday after he was declared the winner, picking up whatever they could find on the streets of Victoria to use as a makeshift musical instrument, bashing dustbin lids with sticks.
Pick-up trucks full of ululating women wearing the ruling party's bright red clothes drove through the streets.
"It was so tense. I thought we would lose after all the work the president has put in during his last two years," SPPF activist Marie-Josee Hoareau said, wearing a red T-shirt, scarf and cap as she ran around kissing her fellow party faithful.
According to the electoral commission, the final tally gave Mr Michel just less than 54 per cent of the 56,000 ballots cast and Wavel Ramkalawan, an Anglican priest, just under 46 per cent.
A third candidate, lawyer Philippe Boulle, got 0.6 per cent.
Mr Ramkalawan told his supporters to be peaceful. "SPPF has won. As they celebrate, let us not confront them," Mr Ramkalawan, who suffered his third loss in as many election bids, told his supporters.
Campaigning under the slogan "Catching the JJ-Spirit" (because of his first two initials), Mr Michel sought to cash in on a feel-good factor from an economic upturn.
He campaigned on his record on implementing economic reforms: relaxing import controls, slashing red tape to foreign investment, breaking up and privatising state monopolies, and making the central bank independent.