National holiday: National Day, 18 June (1993) (adoption of the constitution)
Constitution: 18 June 1993
Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977);
note—the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June
1977); note—the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 20-22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003)
election results: President France Albert RENE reelected; percent of
vote—France Albert RENE (SPPF) 61%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 27%, Sir
James MANCHAM (DP) 12%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (35 seats—25 elected by popular vote, 10 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least nine percent of the vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20-22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party (elected)—SPPF 24, DP 1; seats by party (awarded)—SPPF 6, DP 1, UO 3 note: the 10 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of each party in the total vote
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president; Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: ruling party—Seychelles People's
Political pressure groups and leaders: trade unions; Roman
Catholic Church
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C,
ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, InOC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO (applicant)