National Assembly (Seychelles)
National Assembly | |
|---|---|
| 8th National Assembly | |
Logo of the National Assembly of Seychelles. | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 30 July 1993[1] |
| Preceded by | People's Assembly of Seychelles |
| Leadership | |
Speaker | Azarel Ernesta, US since 28 October 2025 |
Deputy Speaker | Egbert Aglae, US since 28 October 2025 |
Leader of Government Business | Sylvanne Lemiel, US since 28 October 2025 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 34 |
Political groups | Government (19)
Opposition (15)
|
Length of term | 5 years |
| Elections | |
| Parallel voting | |
First election | 20–23 July 1993 |
Last election | 25–27 September 2025 |
Next election | Not before 30 September 2030 |
| Motto | |
| United in diversity Seychellois Creole: Linite dans diversite | |
| Meeting place | |
| National Assembly Building, Victoria | |
| Website | |
| nationalassembly | |
| Constitution | |
| Constitution of Seychelles | |
The unicameral National Assembly (French: Assemblée nationale; Creole: Lasanble Nasyonal) is the Seychelles's legislative body.
The National Assembly in its current constellation formed following elections held on 25–27 September 2025, with a total of 34 members. The current Speaker of the National Assembly is Azarel Ernesta, in office since 28 October 2025.[2]
Background
The current National Assembly was preceded by the Legislative Council of Seychelles from 1962 to 1970, the Legislative Assembly from 1970 to 1974, the House of Assembly from 1975 to 1976, the National Assembly 1976 to 1977 and the People's Assembly from 1979 to 1993.[3]
26 members are elected in single member constituencies using the simple majority (or First-past-the-post) system. The remaining up to nine members are elected through a system of proportional representation. Members serve five-year terms.[4]
The working language of the National Assembly is Seychellois Creole. With permission from the speaker, members may address the assembly in English or French. Visitors may address the assembly in other languages with the speaker's permission.[5]
List of speakers
| Position | Name | Took office | Left office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legislative Council of Seychelles | Julian Asquith, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Asquith | January 1962 | February 1967 | Also colonial governors |
| Hugh Norman-Walker | February 1967 | January 1969 | ||
| Bruce Greatbatch | January 1969 | November 1970 | ||
| Speaker of the Legislative Assembly | Michel Lousteau-Lalanne | 1970 | 1974 | [8] |
| Speaker of the House of Assembly | Michel Lousteau-Lalanne | 1975 | 1976 | [8] |
| Speaker of the National Assembly | Michel Lousteau-Lalanne | 1976 | June 1977 | [8] |
| In abeyance | June 1977 | 1979 | [9] | |
| Chairman of the People's Assembly | David Thomas | 1979 | 1979 | [8] |
| Chairman of the People's Assembly | John Renaud | 1979 | 1983 | [8] |
| Chairman of the People's Assembly | John Mascarenhas | 1983 | December 1987 | [8] |
| Chairman of the People's Assembly | Francis MacGregor | December 1987 | 1993 | [8] |
Speakers and deputy speakers of the National Assembly of Seychelles since the 1993 multiparty elections:
| Legislature | Speaker | Deputy | Entered office | Left office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First National Assembly | Francis MacGregor | Shelton Jolicoeur | 30 July 1993 | 1998 |
| Second National Assembly | Francis MacGregor | Shelton Jolicoeur | 30 March 1998 | 2002 |
| Third National Assembly | Francis MacGregor | Shelton Jolicoeur Dick Esparon[10] |
17 December 2002 | 2007 |
| Fourth National Assembly | Patrick Herminie | Wilby Lucas[11] | 29 May 2007 | 2011 |
| Fifth National Assembly | Patrick Herminie | Andre Pool | 2011 | September 2016 |
| Sixth National Assembly | Patrick Pillay | Nicholas Prea | 27 September 2016 | 29 January 2018 |
| Nicholas Prea | Ahmed Afif | 6 March 2018 | 28 October 2020 | |
| Seventh National Assembly | Roger Mancienne | Gervais Henrie | 28 October 2020 | 28 October 2025 |
| Eighth National Assembly | Azarel Ernesta | Egbert Aglae | 28 October 2025 | present |
Parliamentary leaders
The members serving as Leader of Government Business since 1993:[12]
| Legislature | Member | Party | Entered office | Left office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First National Assembly | Danny Faure | Seychelles People's Progressive Front | 30 July 1993 | 1998 |
| Second National Assembly | Patrick Herminie | Seychelles People's Progressive Front | 30 March 1998 | 2002 |
| Third National Assembly | Patrick Herminie | Seychelles People's Progressive Front | 17 December 2002 | 2007 |
| Fourth National Assembly | Marie-Louise Potter | Seychelles People's Progressive Front | 29 May 2007 | 2011 |
| Fifth National Assembly | Marie-Louise Potter | People's Party | 2011 | March 2012[13] |
| Marie-Antoinette Rose | People's Party | March 2012 | May 2016[14] | |
| Charles DeCommarmond | People's Party | 7 June 2016[14] | September 2016 | |
| Sixth National Assembly | Charles DeCommarmond | United Seychelles | 27 September 2016 | 28 October 2020 |
| Seventh National Assembly | Bernard Georges | Linyon Demokratik Seselwa | 28 October 2020 | 28 October 2025 |
| Eight National Assembly | Sylvanne Lemiel | United Seychelles | 28 October 2025 | present |
Additionally, opposition has been organized with an elected Leader of the Opposition since 1993.[12]
2025 National Assembly elections
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FPTP | PR | Total | +/− | |||||
| United Seychelles | 30,880 | 49.14 | 15 | 4 | 19 | +9 | ||
| Linyon Demokratik Seselwa | 28,159 | 44.81 | 11 | 4 | 15 | −10 | ||
| Seychelles United Movement | 1,316 | 2.09 | 0 | 0 | 0 | New | ||
| Lalyans Nouvo Sesel | 852 | 1.36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | New | ||
| Mouvman Lavwa Seselwa | 700 | 1.11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | New | ||
| Seychelles People's National Movement | 326 | 0.52 | 0 | 0 | 0 | New | ||
| Laliberté | 190 | 0.30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | New | ||
| Independents | 414 | 0.66 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 62,837 | 100.00 | 26 | 8 | 34 | −1 | ||
| Valid votes | 62,837 | 96.99 | ||||||
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,950 | 3.01 | ||||||
| Total votes | 64,787 | 100.00 | ||||||
| Registered voters/turnout | 77,045 | 84.09 | ||||||
| Source: ECS | ||||||||
See also
References
- ^ Ernesta, Sharon (2 August 2018). "8 facts about the logo of the Seychelles National Assembly". seychellesnewsagency.com. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ "National Assembly gets first female Speaker". Seychelles Nation. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ Allagain, Stanley. "Our History – The National Assembly of Seychelles". Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
- ^ "Seychelles National Assembly Election 2020". Election Commission Seychelles. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Standing Orders, 2020". The National Assembly of Seychelles. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- ^ "The Parliamentarian: Journal of the Parliaments of the Commonwealth". 1962.
- ^ "The Parliamentarian: Journal of the Parliaments of the Commonwealth". 1970.
- ^ a b c d e f g MacGregor, Francis E. (12 September 2004). A Parliamentary History of Seychelles. F.E. MacGregor. ISBN 9789993160007 – via Google Books.
- ^ "The Parliamentarian: Journal of the Parliaments of the Commonwealth". 1978.
- ^ "MFA Press Statement Presentation of Credentials". mfa.gov.sg.
- ^ "Dr Patrick Herminie is the new National Assembly Speaker-Wilby Lucas new Deputy Speaker, former Speaker McGregor retires -Archive -Seychelles Nation". nation.sc.
- ^ a b "History of the National Assembly". The National Assembly of Seychelles. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- ^ Georges. "Ambassador Potter retires from public service". Ministry of Youth Sports & Culture. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Seychelles' National Assembly approves ambassador nominations". seychellesnewsagency.com. Retrieved 22 January 2022.