se Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie
Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade,
Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe), Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue,
La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La
Rue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Independence: 29 June 1976 (from UK)

National holiday: National Day, 18 June (1993) (adoption of the
constitution)

Constitution: 18 June 1993

Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and
customary law

Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977);
note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June
1977); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 20-22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003)
election results: President France Albert RENE reelected; percent of
vote--France Albert RENE (SPPF) 61%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 27%, Sir
James MANCHAM (DP) 12%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (35 seats--25 elected by popular vote, 10 allocated on a
proportional basis to parties winning at least nine percent of the
vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20-22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003)
election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party
(elected)--SPPF 24, DP 1; seats by party (awarded)--SPPF 6, DP 1, UO 3
note: the 10 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of
each party in the total vote

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the
president; Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders: ruling party--Seychelles People's

Political pressure groups and leaders: trade unions; Roman
Catholic Church

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C,
ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, InOC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, NAM, OAU,
OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO (applicant)

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Claude MOREL
chancery: 8