James Alix Michel was the third president of the Republic of Seychelles, succeeding France Albert René upon the retirement of the latter in April 2004, and was elected as president in July 2006, re-elected in May 2011, and again re-elected for a final term in December 2015. In April 2016, an amendment to the Constitution, proposed by Michel, limiting presidential mandates to two terms of five years in office was approved by the country's National Assembly. Faithful to his commitment not to hold on to power 'for power's sake', James Michel resigned as president barely ten months after taking office, handing over to the Vice-President.