Monday, October 3, 2016

DO WE NEED A VICE PRESIDENT?

Act 14 of 1996 amended the Constitution not only by giving us a new article 55(1) that reads as follows; “Where the President dies, resigns or is removed from office, the Vice-President shall assume the office of President for the unexpired term of the President with effect from the death, resignation or removal from office of the President.” but it also created the post of Vice-President by introducing a new article 66 (A) (1) “There shall be a Vice-President of Seychelles who shall perform the functions assigned to the Vice-President by the Constitution, an Act or the President.”

 However, the ruling party with its majority was not satisfied with this amendment, so in act 7 of 2000 they amended the constitution again. And gave us; Article 52 A (2) “The President may, at any time after the expiration of one year from the commencement of the President's first or second term of office, by Proclamation published in the Gazette, declare the President's intention of appealing to the People for a mandate to hold office, by election for a further term." As Mr. Faure is taking on the unexpired term of Mr James Michel`s mandate the earliest date that he can call for fresh Presidential election would be after December 20th 2016.

If Mr Faure does not get the National Assembly approval for the appointment of a Vice President and a Designated Minister; are we then looking at a scenario where he will run the country without those 2 constitutional appointees until he can have fresh Presidential elections?



Alexia G. Amesbury