Background
He is married, and has one son and a daughter.
He is married, and has one son and a daughter.
He completed his secondary education in Victoria in 1959.
He taught for two years before joining the telecommunications company Cable & Wireless, the trade union movement and the hotel industry.
During the one-party socialist-dictatorship from 1977-1993 Michel held key ruling party and ministerial portfolios.
During President Mancham's rule Michel was the head of the Seychellios economy. In these 25 years the Seychelles experienced an economic boom based on tourism and fishing. The progress made during this period of rapid economic growth has been threatened as a result of an accumulated budget deficit.
Michel played a major role in the country's democratisation process, which started with multi-party elections in 1993.
Mr.Michel became second Elected President of the third Republic in July 2006, from Seychelles people progressive front (SPPF) party.
President Michel presently has portfolio responsibilities for Entrepreneurship Development and Business Innovation, Defence , Legal Affairs and Information.
Starting from 2008, Michel has presided over a macro-economic reform program, leading to a massive reduction in budget deficit and complete liberalization of foreign exchange transactions.
Michel is also criticized for some of Seychelles current issues which involve limited freedom and alleged rigged elections.
President Michel is the Chancellor of the University of Seychelles, and the patron of the Seychelles Football Federation, the Seychelles Islands Foundation, the Seychelles Scouts Association and the Jj Spirit Foundation.
James Michel was responsible for the democratization of the islands’ education system in the early 1980s. Today all Seychellois children have access to a minimum 13 years of non-fee paying education and equal opportunities to learning. A keen educationalist, President Michel was directly involved in the creation of the University of Seychelles. At the establishment of the university on 17th September 2009, he was named its chancellor. One of his greatest achievements as President has been the revitalization and reform of the Seychelles economy. In October 2008 he embarked on an economic reform programme, undertaken with vigor and far-reaching impact, unprecedented in Seychelles history.
President Michel is the recipient of several international awards and decorations.
He is married, and has one son and a daughter.
His eldest son passed away at an early age
Alix Michel and the First Lady Mrs. Natalie Michel have started divorce proceedings by mutual consent
President Michel and Mrs. Michel have asked the public to respect their privacy.
