Seychelles - Head of Government

His Excellency Mr James Alix Michel is serving a second term in office as President of Seychelles after winning the July 2006 presidential election. He first took office in April 2004 following the retirement of his predecessor, Mr France Albert René.

He is concurrently Minister for Defence, Police, Legal Affairs and Information.

Mr Michel is also President of his ruling Parti Lepep (People’s Party), which was renamed in June 2009 from what was known as the Seychelles People’s Progressive Front (SPPF).

Mr Michel previously served as Vice-President of Seychelles from 1996 to April 2004, and also held ministerial portfolios for Defence, Education, Finance, Communications, Culture and Sports. From 1993 to 1996, he was First Designated Minister to discharge the Office of the President in the absence of the Head of State.

Mr Michel became Vice-Chairperson of the Seychelles International Business Authority in 1995 and has been Vice-Chairperson of the Economic and Finance Inter-Ministerial Committee since 1993. He became a member of the National Economic Council in 1991.

Mr Michel served as Secretary-General of the SPPF from 1994 to June 2009, having held the post of Deputy Secretary-General from 1984 to 1994.

In 1978 he became a member of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of the SPPF which replaced the Seychelles People’s United Party where he was also a CEC member from 1974 to 1977.

Mr Michel served in the Seychelles Defence Forces from 1977 to 1993, becoming Chief of Staff in 1979 before retiring as a Colonel.

He had earlier joined the private sector after a brief period as a teacher. Mr Michel was educated in Seychelles and attended the Teacher Training College.

He was born on 16 August 1944 in Mahé, Seychelles.