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Seychelles Governmental System, 1977-93
Under the constitution that took effect in 1979, all
political activity, in particular that regarding the
formulation
and debate of policy, was conducted under the auspices of
the
Front. The party constitution was attached as a supplement
to the
national constitution. The president, as head of state and
commander in chief of the armed forces, was nominated by
the
national congress of the SPPF and stood for election on a
yes-no
basis. All Seychellois aged seventeen or older could vote.
The
president served a five-year term and could be elected no
more
than three times in succession.
The constitution provided few checks on executive
powers. The
president appointed a cabinet without review by the
People's
Assembly. The latter consisted of twenty-three members
elected
for four-year terms from twenty-three constituencies, plus
two
members named by the president to represent the inner and
outer
islands. The president appointed the chair of the
assembly. The
SPPF selected candidates for assembly seats. In some
constituencies, only one candidate was nominated, but in
others
the voters could choose from as many as three SPPF
nominees. The
legislature exercised no independent role, simply enacting
into
law bills proposed by the executive branch. Debates on
issues
occurred and were reported in the media, but criticism of
the
president or the government was not tolerated.
Data as of August 1994
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