Wavel Ramkalawan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wavel Ramkalawan
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Ramkalawan in 2020
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| 5th President of Seychelles | |
| Assumed office 26 October 2020 |
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| Vice President | Ahmed Afif |
| Preceded by | Danny Faure |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 March 1961 Mahé, Colony of Seychelles |
| Political party | Linyon Demokratik Seselwa |
| Spouse | Linda Ramkalawan |
| Children | Three |
| Alma mater | St Paul's Theological College University of Birmingham |
Wavel Ramkalawan was born on March 15, 1961. He is a politician and an Anglican priest from Seychelles. Since October 26, 2020, he has been serving as the President of Seychelles. Before becoming president, Ramkalawan was a member of parliament for the opposition party from 1993 to 2011 and again from 2016 to 2020. He also served as the Leader of the Opposition during those periods. In October 2020, Ramkalawan won the presidential election. This was a big moment for Seychelles, as it was the first time an opposition candidate won since the country became independent. It also marked the first peaceful transfer of power in Seychelles' history.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Wavel Ramkalawan was born in 1961 on Mahé, which is the main island of Seychelles. He grew up in a humble family and was the youngest of three children. His father worked as a tinsmith, and his mother was a teacher.
Ramkalawan attended Seychelles College for his primary and secondary education. This was a well-known school for boys in the country. After finishing school, he studied theology at St Paul's Theological College in Mauritius. He then continued his studies at Birmingham University. In 1985, he became a priest. When he returned to Seychelles, he worked in several churches. He eventually became the priest-in-charge of The Holy Saviour parish.
Starting in Politics
In 1990, Wavel Ramkalawan became well-known for a sermon he gave. It was even broadcast on the national radio station. In his sermon, he questioned the way the government was running the country. At that time, Seychelles was a one-party state, meaning only one political party was allowed. Ramkalawan spoke about the need for more freedom and respect for human rights.
Even though his broadcast was cut short, Ramkalawan continued to share his sermons that criticized the government. Back then, the Catholic and Anglican churches were among the only groups that could openly discuss social issues. In 1991, while still a priest, he joined other people who disagreed with the government. They formed a secret group called Parti Seselwa. Ramkalawan became the first leader of this new party.
Becoming an Opposition Leader
When the government decided to allow more than one political party in 1992, Parti Seselwa was one of the first parties to officially register. They joined other groups that were against the government. In the 1992 elections, his party did not get enough votes to be part of the constitutional commission.
However, after a new constitution was created in 1993, Parti Seselwa joined two other opposition parties. They formed The United Opposition (UO) and took part in the 1993 general elections. This time, they won enough votes for one member to join the National Assembly. That member was Wavel Ramkalawan.
In 1998, Ramkalawan led his party in the next general elections. His party gained more support and won three seats in the National Assembly. He won his home area of St Louis and has represented it ever since. He also became the Leader of the Opposition. He held this important role from 1998 to 2011 and again from 2016 to 2020.
In the 2001 presidential elections, Ramkalawan received a good number of votes but lost to the current president, France-Albert René. The next year, Ramkalawan led his party, now called the Seychelles National Party (SNP), in the National Assembly elections. The party increased its number of seats in parliament.
In 2005, Ramkalawan took a break from his duties as a priest. He wanted to focus completely on his political work. He felt this was a very important time for the country. However, he lost to James Michel in the presidential elections of 2006 and 2011. In 2011, Ramkalawan and his party, along with other major opposition parties, decided not to take part in the parliamentary elections.
In the 2015 election, Ramkalawan and James Michel had to go to a second round of voting. This was the first time a presidential election in Seychelles needed a runoff. Ramkalawan lost by a very small number of votes.
Becoming President
In the 2020 presidential election, Wavel Ramkalawan ran against the president at the time, Danny Faure. This time, Ramkalawan won, securing 54.9% of the votes. This election was a historic moment for Seychelles. It was the first time that power was transferred peacefully to an opposition party since the country gained independence in 1976.
On November 4, 2020, President Ramkalawan was also given control over several important government areas. These included Defence, Legal Affairs, Public Administration, National Planning, and National Security.
See also
In Spanish: Wavel Ramkalawan para niños
