Alain St.Ange, a candidate in the 2025 Seychelles Presidential Election, confirms he is preparing a first-hand political history book that documents his campaign for State House and the inner workings of modern Seychellois politics.
Titled Trials Of A Candidate – The Untold Story of the 2025 State House Race, the book is co-authored with his daughter, Michelle St.Ange-Ebrahim, a lawyer completing a PhD in Law, and is scheduled for release later this year, with the official launch date and ISBN to be announced.
The publication draws on campaign records, personal experiences, photographs, and legal and political analysis to explore what St.Ange describes as the unspoken rules, structural imbalances, and pressures faced by candidates who challenge entrenched political parties. It also marks St.Ange’s decision to retire from active politics after the 2025 race, shifting his focus back to family life and public service in other forms.
From postcard paradise to political reality
To most travellers, the Seychelles represents barefoot luxury, coral reefs, and a slow rhythm of island life. Yet behind the beaches and honeymoon resorts lies a small but complex democracy where political power, financing, and visibility can shape who gets heard and who struggles to compete. St.Ange’s book positions itself as a rare window into this lesser-seen side of the Indian Ocean nation.
According to the announcement, the authors aim to present a factual and reflective account rather than a polemic. The narrative distinguishes between verifiable facts, personal observations, and broader analysis, framing the work as a contribution to democratic discourse and as a historical record of the 2025 election.
“We have a story to tell, and we are telling it exactly as we lived it,” said Alain St.Ange, Candidate in the 2025 Seychelles Presidential Election. “This is not about making accusations. It is about documenting what it feels like to contest a national election from the outside. We were the underdogs, and this book allows the country to see—through facts, reflections, and lived experience—what that journey truly looked like.”
For travellers who return from the islands with sunburnt shoulders and camera rolls full of turquoise lagoons, the idea of political struggle may feel distant. Yet island nations often experience political dynamics that are intensified by scale: limited media markets, tight-knit communities, and funding challenges that can disproportionately affect independent candidates. The book promises to unpack how these dynamics played out during the 2025 campaign.
St.Ange is no stranger to political commentary. His previous works include Seychelles: What’s Next?, Seychelles, In Search of Democracy, Seychelles, The Cry of A People, and Alain St.Ange, My Journey – Life & Times in Politics. The new publication builds on that foundation while looking forward to how governance may evolve in a rapidly developing political landscape.
Money, representation and life after politics
Among the central themes explored in the book is the role of money in political success, including campaign financing and the structural barriers that independent or non-establishment candidates face when attempting to compete meaningfully. These realities, the authors argue, shape not only electoral outcomes but also the diversity of voices represented in public life.
The publication also examines the challenges faced by women in politics, including female presidential and vice-presidential candidates. Despite Seychelles often being described as a matriarchal society, the book highlights the disconnect between social structures and political power, pointing to additional scrutiny, resistance, and systemic hurdles women encounter when seeking leadership roles.
Beyond the campaign itself, the announcement confirms that St.Ange now intends to step away from active politics. He describes answering a call to action in the previous year with determination and resilience, while expressing readiness to close this chapter of his public life.
“This has never been about personal ambition,” said Alain St.Ange, Candidate in the 2025 Seychelles Presidential Election. “I have always sought to serve Seychelles in every stage of my life. I answered the call when it came, and I am proud of what we achieved. Now I am ready to close this political chapter, to return to my family, and to continue serving my country in other ways.”
For global travellers increasingly interested in the cultural and political stories behind the destinations they visit, the book offers context that extends beyond beaches and biodiversity. Understanding how power is exercised, challenged, and defended in a small island nation can deepen appreciation for the communities that sustain tourism and national identity.
More than a campaign chronicle, the work positions itself as a tell-all account of political life in Seychelles, offering readers an unfiltered perspective on how elections are experienced by those outside established power structures. As details of the publication date and official launch emerge later this year, the book is likely to appeal not only to political observers but also to curious travellers seeking to understand the real-world forces shaping one of the world’s most idyllic destinations.
