The new political generation believe they can take radical economic change in their stride
Stable politics may be about to produce radical economic changes. On 20 March, the presidential and parliamentary elections are unlikely to upset President France-Albert René or his ruling Seychelles People’ s Progressive Front, which has 25 of parliament’ s 33 seats. Yet the old leaders are on their way out. René’s old rival James Mancham already plays the part of a semi-retired statesman. And after 21 years in office René, at 62, is a sick man. Nobody admits exactly what’ s wrong - some say leukaemia, others melanoma - but he makes ever more frequent trips to Singapore for check- ups, delegating many duties to Deputy President James Michel, who seems likely to have the job by the end of the century.
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