# Opposition Boycotts 2011 Assembly Election (29 September)

URL: https://allhistories.com/seychelles/timeline/2011-opposition-boycotts-2011-assembly-election
Location: Seychelles
Themes: main-event

After losing the presidential election in May 2011, the Seychelles National Party demanded reforms of the electoral law, in particular limits on campaign spending and fairer access to the media. When the government did not agree, the SNP and the New Democratic Party announced that they would boycott the early National Assembly election called for late September. The election was held from 29 September to 1 October 2011. Parti Lepep won all 25 directly elected seats and 8 of the 9 proportional seats; the remaining seat went to the Popular Democratic Movement, a breakaway faction of the SNP led by David Pierre, which became the official opposition. Turnout was about 74%, but nearly a third of the ballots cast were spoilt, many as a deliberate protest. For five years the National Assembly was almost a one-party chamber, while the main opposition campaigned outside parliament. The episode prompted talks on electoral reform, an independent Electoral Commission and new rules on party financing, and the opposition returned in strength in the 2015 presidential and 2016 parliamentary elections. At this point in the timeline (29 September 2011), the President of Seychelles was James Michel (22 May 2011 – 20 December 2015 (term 2, elected 2011)).

## Why it matters
The boycott left Seychelles with a near-single-party legislature and highlighted unresolved disputes over the fairness of its electoral system.

Ruler at the Time: [James Michel](https://allhistories.com/seychelles/rulers/james-michel-2004)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — 2011 Seychellois parliamentary election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Seychellois_parliamentary_election)
- [Wikipedia — National Assembly of Seychelles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Assembly_of_Seychelles)
- [National Assembly of Seychelles](https://www.nationalassembly.sc/)
- [Wikipedia — Third Republic Under René and Michel (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Seychelles)