Indian Ocean island country Seychelles is to kick off presidential elections on Friday.

Incumbent President James Michel of the ruling Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF) will face challenges from opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan and independent barrister Philippe Boulle during the three-day polls which analysts say could be a nip and tuck race between Michel and Ramkalawan.

Following is a brief introduction to the two presidential hopefuls:

James Michel came into power in April 2004 when former president France Albert Rene stepped down after ruling the archipelago nation for 27 years since 1977.

The 62-year-old, described as "a man of great virtues", comes from a background of teacher.

He rose to political importance through involvement in tourism industry and engagement in Rene's political party since 1974.

He was in the party's central committee in 1977 when Rene came into power through a bloodless coup against the country's first president James Mancham.

From 1977 to 1993, Michel held key ruling party and ministerial portfolios. He served on several occasions as the country's finance minister.

He had a 16-year military career and retired from the armed forces in 1993 with the rank of colonel.

Michel has served as vice president at the Rene administration since 1996.

He also participated in the country's democratization process that started with multiparty elections in 1993.

The president, both the chief of government and head of state, is also the country's finance minister, defense minister and home affairs minister, currently.

Wavel Ramkalawan, leader of the opposition Seychelles National Party (SNP), is considered to be a near rival to Michel.

An Anglican priest, Ramkalawan entered politics in 1991 when he joined others who had been active in opposing the government to form an underground organization, Parti Seselwa, and became its leader.

Ramkalawan contested presidential elections three times in 1993, 1998 and 2001 but all failed.

However, the 2001 election saw Ramkalawan gain increased national support by polling 45 percent of the vote against Rene's 54 percent.

In 2002, Ramkalawan led his party, renamed SNP, into the National Assembly elections. The party increased its parliamentary representation from one directly elected member to seven and from two proportionally elected members to four.

The 45-year-old was born in Mahe, the principal island of Seychelles.

Source: Xinhua