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James Michel

Victoria. — The Indian Ocean archipelago of the Seychelles has approved six candidates including incumbent leader James Michel to run in presidential polls next month, the election commission has said.

The commission’s approval on Wednesday formally opened nearly three weeks of campaigning, with voting to begin on December 3.

Michel, of the Parti Lepep — “The People” in the local Seychellois Creole language — is hoping to win a third and final term, as permitted by the constitution.

The tourism-dependent archipelago nation is made up of 115 islands, some as much as 1 000km from the main island of Mahe.

Michel is running against a disorganised opposition, but observers say a run-off is possible for the first time since multi-party politics was re-introduced in 1993.

If it does go to a run-off, the second round of voting should take place one to two weeks after the first.

Analysts say Michel — who won elections in 2006 and 2011 — faces only two real challengers: Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychelles National Party, and Patrick Pillay of the Lalyans Seselwa (Seychellois Alliance), a former minister who defected from Michel’s Parti Lepep.

While the opposition is split for the first round, they have promised to unite behind a single candidate to challenge Michel if the vote goes to a second round. — AFP.