James Mancham

Sir James Richard Marie Mancham, also called Jimmy (* 1939) was Prime Minister from 1976 till 1977, the first president of the Seychelles.

Early years

Mancham studied law in London and Paris. In the Seychelles in 1964, he founded the conservative Seychelles Democratic Party ( SDP), which won the first general election in 1967. His livelihood, he played as a lawyer, journalist, writer and businessman.

In November 1970, he became Prime Minister of belonging even to Great Britain archipelago after the re- election victory of his party. He retained the office, as the Islands became autonomous in 1975. Mancham was for economic reasons, the independence of the Seychelles against long dismissive, but then they aspired to. In order to create the islands an economic basis, he sat on the structure of tourism.

President

On June 29, 1976, he became the first president of the now sovereign state. As prime minister, he appointed the chairman of the Socialist SPUP, France- Albert René. During a visit Manchams in London attending a summit of the Commonwealth put him René on June 5, 1977, and ruled the country until 2004.

Exile and Return

Mancham remained in exile in England and was opposed to his successor. When it came to coup attempts against René in the following period, as on 25 November 1981 under the leadership of "Mad" Mike Hoare, his name was called, its exact role remained in the dark.

After René moved away from one-party state, he returned in 1992 and was re- established in collaboration with René member Constitutional Commission. In July 1993, he ran unsuccessfully for the presidency. With 36.72 % of the vote, he reached the second place. In March 1998, he took a fresh start, but was 13.8 % of the vote only third. In 2001 he renounced his candidacy. With the emergence of new parties, he lost his importance as a leader of the opposition.

This and That

On August 18, 2003, he was a guest of the event "Footballer of the Year" in Tulln (Article with picture (2nd row, right photo ) )

Mancham has written several books on political issues

Swell

• Fischer World Almanac - biographies of contemporary history since 1945, Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag, 1985, ISBN 3596245532

Works

• James R. Mancham, War on America. Seen from the Indian Ocean, Paragon House Publishers, 2002 ISBN 1557788154 (English)