René, France-Albert (1935- )

Seychelles left-wing politician, president 1977-2004. He became the country's first prime minister after independence, and president from 1977 after a coup. He followed a non-nuclear policy of non-alignment. In 1993 René and his party, the People's Progressive Front, won the country's first free elections in 16 years. He was then re-elected in 2001.

In 1964 René founded the left-wing Seychelles People's United Party (SPUP), pressing for complete independence. When this was achieved in 1976, he became prime minister and James Mancham, leader of the Seychelles Democratic Party, became president. René seized the presidency in 1977 and set up a one-party state, but this was replaced by a multiparty constitution adopted in 1993. He was re-elected president in March 1998 and the SPUP won the concurrent assembly elections.