France-Albert René

France- Albert René ( often abbreviated to Albert René, born November 16, 1935) was from 1977 to 2004 President of the Seychelles.

Early years

René was born on the island of Mahé. The son of a plantation manager, he grew up on the Farquhar Atoll. The family did not belong to the upper class, despite their European origins. With the help of scholarships René could attend the high school on Mahé and studied in UK law at Saint Mary's College and King's College London and in Switzerland before it until 1961, worked from 1957 as a lawyer in Victoria, capital of Seychelles. Politically, he was guided by the Labour Party, which later Hugh Gaitskell was led Attlee to his London life of Clement and. His ideal was initially a moderate socialist ideology with the same time closely linked to conservative forces, such as the Roman Catholic Church. Originally priest his career aspirations, but he later distanced himself from the Church, as they criticized his policies.

Politician

In 1964 he founded the Seychelles People's United Party ( SPUP ), the opposite was founded in the same year conservative Seychelles Democratic Party ( SDP) of James Mancham. The SDP won in 1967 the first elections of the islands belonging to the United Kingdom and also won in November 1970, when she got 10 seats and René SPUP 5 He won in this election and a seat In the last few decades to come free elections in April 1974 received the SDP 13 and the SPUP 2 seats. Unlike Mancham René was an early advocate of independence.

On June 29, 1976 Mancham became his prime minister with the country's independence, and President René. Both cooperation ended on June 5, 1977, when the traveled to a summit conference of the Commonwealth to London Mancham was deposed in a coup and René took his place.

President

Its 1978 in Seychelles People's Progressive Front ( SPPF ) party was renamed the following year for the Unity Party. In the presidential elections in June 1979, on 17 June 1984, in June 1989 he was confirmed unopposed in office. The parliamentary elections of June 1979, August 7, 1983 to December 5, 1987 brought his party all seats.

Foreign Policy

On November 25, 1981, a coup attempt failed against him. A group of mercenaries led by "Mad" Mike Hoare, mostly from South Africa and Rhodesia traveled disguised as tourists on the islands. The security forces noticed the weapons of travelers, most of whom were able to escape after a firefight. A United Nations investigation made ​​South Africa responsible for the incident. Under Suspicion also living in exile in England Ex - President Mancham and the USA came. The René's relationship with the Americans was burdened by its socialist course and for his opposition to the expansion of the British island of Diego Garcia to continue a military base. South Africa bought the captured mercenaries for around three million U.S. $ free. Further attempts to overthrow René, failed in 1986 and 1987. He maintained good relations with Tanzania, North Korea and the Soviet Union, although without too closely involved with the Eastern Bloc.

Domestic Policy

René designed for high spending on education, health care and environmental value. Compared to other African countries, Seychelles cut in child mortality, literacy rate and average income and living standard as well. On resistance met the constraint that all secondary students had the State National Youth Service to join, which was inspired by the youth organizations in the Eastern world. Like its predecessor Mancham he sat on the expansion of tourism. Despite the occasional attempts to overthrow his regime was stable, and the socialist policy has not prevented him from becoming a wealthy man.

On the other hand, the country has been criticized during his tenure for contempt of human rights, torture, corruption and one-party system. Many opposition activists sought refuge in other countries. His government has also been associated with the death of prominent opposition figures Gérard Horau in London.

Democratization

During the general democratization of African states he gave the one-party state from 1991 on. The first multiparty elections since 1974 were held to 23 July 1993 by the 20th. In the presidential elections, he sat down with 59.5 % against the previous year by returning from exile Mancham. The parliamentary elections his party won 27 of the 33 seats. Five years later he received in the elections from 20 to March 22, 1998 66.67 % of votes in Wavel Ramkalawan of the Seychelles National Party (SNP ) with 19,53 % and Mancham with 13.8%. The SPPF remained the dominant party with 30 of 34 seats. He played his final choice from 31 August to 2 September 2001. He won this time with 54.19 %, while Wavel Ramkalawan received 44.95%. His party won 23 of the 34 seats. On 24 February 2004, he announced his resignation in favor of his old henchman and President since 1996 Vice President James Alix Michel. The official exchange took place on 1 April 2004, the party presidency of the SPPF he kept.