▁from ▁politics ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁Michel ▁created ▁the ▁James ▁Michel ▁Foundation ▁to ▁fund ▁and ▁support ▁projects ▁that ▁focus es ▁on ▁blue ▁economy ▁and ▁climate ▁change . ▁ ▁Pres iden cy ▁ ▁After ▁serving ▁as ▁Vice - Pres ident ▁for ▁nearly ▁eight ▁years , ▁beginning ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁Michel ▁became ▁President ▁on ▁ 1 4 ▁July ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁when ▁René ▁stepped ▁down . ▁At ▁that ▁point , ▁Michel ▁was ▁René ' s ▁longest - ser ving ▁cabinet ▁minister . ▁As ▁President , ▁he ▁held ▁the ▁port fol ios ▁of ▁Def ence , ▁Police , ▁Information , ▁and ▁R isk ▁& ▁Dis aster ▁Management . ▁ ▁Se ych elles ' ▁opposition ▁leader , ▁W avel ▁Ram kal aw an , ▁expressed ▁increased ▁concern ▁over ▁the ▁decl ining ▁tr ends ▁in ▁the ▁national ▁economy ▁and ▁demanded ▁more ▁dialog ue ▁with ▁the ▁r uling ▁party . ▁The ▁leader ▁of ▁the ▁Se ych elles ▁National ▁Party ▁further more ▁said ▁that ▁he ▁would ▁be ▁co oper ating ▁with ▁President ▁Michel . ▁ ▁Michel ▁won ▁the ▁president ial ▁election ▁held ▁on ▁ 2 8 – 3 0 ▁July ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁taking ▁ 5 3 . 7 % ▁of ▁the ▁vote . ▁He ▁was ▁sw orn ▁in ▁for ▁his ▁new ▁term ▁on ▁ 1 ▁August ▁ 2 0 0 6 . ▁Michel ▁won ▁re - e lection ▁in ▁May ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁receiving ▁ 5 5 . 4 % ▁of ▁the