President James A Michel has welcomed the ruling of the Constitutional Court confirming the validity of the last presidential election in December 2015.   Hailing the ruling of the Constitutional Court as a “landmark victory for the rule of law and democracy in Seychelles” and a “powerful affirmation of judicial independence and impartiality in the country”, President Michel said that neither the legitimacy of the electoral process nor that of his election as President of the Republic of Seychelles were ever in doubt.   “I may have been disappointed by the results but I never had any intention of challenging them. I accepted them, in good faith, as the manifestation of the sovereign will and right of the people of Seychelles,” said President Michel. According to the President, the ruling of the Constitutional Court “confirms – in unequivocal terms – the primacy of the rule of law, the fairness, the impartiality and independence of our judicial system, the respect of our democratic institutions and the will of the people”. The President said that he also took note of certain points in the ruling which represent challenges which need to be addressed to further strengthen Seychelles’ democratic institutions.