ANOTHER INCUMBENT FALLS
Danai Nesta Kupemba in London & Yasine Mohabuth in Port Louis
BBC News
Danai Nesta Kupemba in London & Yasine Mohabuth in Port Louis
BBC News
AFP
Pravind Jugnauth said he respects the people's choice
The prime minister of Mauritius has accepted that his coalition, L'Alliance Lepep, has suffered a "huge defeat" following Sunday's parliamentary election.
"The population has decided to choose another team," Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, 62, told journalists on Monday.
Jugnauth was seeking a second five-year term, but his main rival, Navin Ramgoolam, 77, leader of the Alliance of Change coalition, looks set to become the next leader of the Indian Ocean archipelago.
Mauritius is known as one of Africa's most stable democracies, but this election was tainted by a phone-tapping scandal, with leaked recordings of public figures posted online.
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In response, the government issued a social media ban until after the election, although this led to an outcry and the decision was reversed within 24 hours.Is this tiny Mauritian island a confidential spy station?
A simple guide to Mauritius
Final results are yet to be released but Ramgoolam's party looks set to win.
Ramgoolam, a former doctor, told reporters that his party was "heading towards a huge victory", but didn't go into any further detail as he said all votes must be counted first.
"We must respect this choice... and we wish the country and the population good luck," said Jugnauth.
The mood in the capital Port Louis reflects this changing tide, as people gathered in hopeful anticipation of results that signal a fresh direction for the country.
Pravind Jugnauth said he respects the people's choice
The prime minister of Mauritius has accepted that his coalition, L'Alliance Lepep, has suffered a "huge defeat" following Sunday's parliamentary election.
"The population has decided to choose another team," Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, 62, told journalists on Monday.
Jugnauth was seeking a second five-year term, but his main rival, Navin Ramgoolam, 77, leader of the Alliance of Change coalition, looks set to become the next leader of the Indian Ocean archipelago.
Mauritius is known as one of Africa's most stable democracies, but this election was tainted by a phone-tapping scandal, with leaked recordings of public figures posted online.
Advertisement
In response, the government issued a social media ban until after the election, although this led to an outcry and the decision was reversed within 24 hours.Is this tiny Mauritian island a confidential spy station?
A simple guide to Mauritius
Final results are yet to be released but Ramgoolam's party looks set to win.
Ramgoolam, a former doctor, told reporters that his party was "heading towards a huge victory", but didn't go into any further detail as he said all votes must be counted first.
"We must respect this choice... and we wish the country and the population good luck," said Jugnauth.
The mood in the capital Port Louis reflects this changing tide, as people gathered in hopeful anticipation of results that signal a fresh direction for the country.
BBC/Yasine Mohabuth
Opposition supporters are already celebrating victory
People were dancing and singing in the streets with vuvuzelas, the national flags in their hands and fire crackers.
Ibrahim, who voted for the Alliance for Change told the BBC that "growing public dissatisfaction" was a major reason the ruling party lost.
The cost-of-living crisis has been a major issue for many Mauritians, along with a growing concern about governance and corruption.
On the campaign trail, both parties promised to improve the lives of people on the islands.
Ramgoolam - whose father was a liberation hero and has already twice served as prime minister - said he would increase pensions, introduce free transport and internet and reduce fuel costs.
Mauritius' former foreign minister and a member of the opposition coalition, Arvin Boolell, told the BBC Newsday programme the election was a "victory of the people".
Voter turnout was about 80%, according to the electoral commission.
Citizens went to the polls to elect lawmakers for the 62 seats in parliament for the next five years.
Additionally, up to eight "best loser" seats are allocated to ensure fair ethnic representation in parliament.
The vote comes after a historic agreement in which the UK gave up sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Opposition supporters are already celebrating victory
People were dancing and singing in the streets with vuvuzelas, the national flags in their hands and fire crackers.
Ibrahim, who voted for the Alliance for Change told the BBC that "growing public dissatisfaction" was a major reason the ruling party lost.
The cost-of-living crisis has been a major issue for many Mauritians, along with a growing concern about governance and corruption.
On the campaign trail, both parties promised to improve the lives of people on the islands.
Ramgoolam - whose father was a liberation hero and has already twice served as prime minister - said he would increase pensions, introduce free transport and internet and reduce fuel costs.
Mauritius' former foreign minister and a member of the opposition coalition, Arvin Boolell, told the BBC Newsday programme the election was a "victory of the people".
Voter turnout was about 80%, according to the electoral commission.
Citizens went to the polls to elect lawmakers for the 62 seats in parliament for the next five years.
Additionally, up to eight "best loser" seats are allocated to ensure fair ethnic representation in parliament.
The vote comes after a historic agreement in which the UK gave up sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Mauritius opposition leader claims sweeping vote win
By AFP
November 12, 2024
Mauritius opposition leader Navin Ramgoolam said Tuesday that his alliance had won a crushing election victory over the governing coalition, after the incumbent prime minister conceded he faced a “huge defeat”.
Ramgoolam, a two-time former prime minister, told crowds of jubilant supporters in his constituency that his Alliance of Change had made a clean sweep of parliamentary seats on the island of Mauritius in Sunday’s vote.
“I hope PKJ resigns soon. He was beaten 60-0,” Ramgoolam said, referring to Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.
“The power of the people is stronger than a dictatorship,” the 77-year-old added to boisterous cheers and blaring horns.
There were 60 National Assembly seats up for grabs on the island of Mauritius and another two on Rodrigues. The remaining eight are allocated under what is dubbed the “best loser” system.
The winner-takes-all election model means single coalitions often dominate the 70-seat parliament in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
If confirmed, it would be the third time since Mauritius became independent from Britain in 1968 that there has been a 60-0 score, media reports said.
Final official results are expected Tuesday after the election in what is considered one of Africa’s richest and most stable democracies.
Jugnauth had said Monday that his Lepep alliance, led by his Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), was “heading towards a huge defeat”.
– Wire-tapping scandal –
Only last month, Jugnauth, who has been in office since 2017, was celebrating a historic deal that saw Britain cede sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after a long-running dispute.
But the vote was overshadowed by an explosive wire-tapping scandal, when secretly recorded phone calls of politicians, diplomats, members of civil society and journalists were leaked online.
During the campaign, both camps promised to improve the lot of ordinary Mauritians who face cost-of-living difficulties despite robust economic growth.
Measures outlined in the Alliance of Change manifesto include the creation of a fund to support families facing hardship, free public transport, increased pensions and reduced fuel prices, as well as efforts to tackle corruption and boost the green economy.
It also called for constitutional and electoral reforms including changing how the president and parliament speaker are chosen.
The majority-Hindu nation has seen substantial stability and growth since independence, building an economy based on tourism as well as financial services and textile manufacturing.
Gross domestic product per capita in 2022 was more than $10,000, according to the World Bank. But analysts have highlighted growing concerns about governance and corruption as well as the need to diversify the Mauritian economy.
Both Jugnauth and Ramgoolam are members of the dynasties that have dominated the leadership of Mauritius since independence.
Ramgoolam, who previously worked as a doctor and a lawyer, served as prime minister between 1995 and 2000 and again from 2005 to 2014.
He is the son of Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who led Mauritius to independence from Britain in 1968.
Several teams sent to observe the legislative election — the 12th since independence — are due to issue their verdicts on Tuesday.
Indian Prime Minister Navendra Modi was the first foreign leader to publicly congratulate Ramgoolam, who is of Indian ancestry.
“I wished him great success in leading Mauritius and extended an invitation to visit India. Look forward to working closely together to strengthen our special and unique partnership,” Modi posted on X on Monday.
By AFP
November 12, 2024
Mauritius opposition leader Navin Ramgoolam said Tuesday that his alliance had won a crushing election victory over the governing coalition, after the incumbent prime minister conceded he faced a “huge defeat”.
Ramgoolam, a two-time former prime minister, told crowds of jubilant supporters in his constituency that his Alliance of Change had made a clean sweep of parliamentary seats on the island of Mauritius in Sunday’s vote.
“I hope PKJ resigns soon. He was beaten 60-0,” Ramgoolam said, referring to Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.
“The power of the people is stronger than a dictatorship,” the 77-year-old added to boisterous cheers and blaring horns.
There were 60 National Assembly seats up for grabs on the island of Mauritius and another two on Rodrigues. The remaining eight are allocated under what is dubbed the “best loser” system.
The winner-takes-all election model means single coalitions often dominate the 70-seat parliament in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
If confirmed, it would be the third time since Mauritius became independent from Britain in 1968 that there has been a 60-0 score, media reports said.
Final official results are expected Tuesday after the election in what is considered one of Africa’s richest and most stable democracies.
Jugnauth had said Monday that his Lepep alliance, led by his Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), was “heading towards a huge defeat”.
– Wire-tapping scandal –
Only last month, Jugnauth, who has been in office since 2017, was celebrating a historic deal that saw Britain cede sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after a long-running dispute.
But the vote was overshadowed by an explosive wire-tapping scandal, when secretly recorded phone calls of politicians, diplomats, members of civil society and journalists were leaked online.
During the campaign, both camps promised to improve the lot of ordinary Mauritians who face cost-of-living difficulties despite robust economic growth.
Measures outlined in the Alliance of Change manifesto include the creation of a fund to support families facing hardship, free public transport, increased pensions and reduced fuel prices, as well as efforts to tackle corruption and boost the green economy.
It also called for constitutional and electoral reforms including changing how the president and parliament speaker are chosen.
The majority-Hindu nation has seen substantial stability and growth since independence, building an economy based on tourism as well as financial services and textile manufacturing.
Gross domestic product per capita in 2022 was more than $10,000, according to the World Bank. But analysts have highlighted growing concerns about governance and corruption as well as the need to diversify the Mauritian economy.
Both Jugnauth and Ramgoolam are members of the dynasties that have dominated the leadership of Mauritius since independence.
Ramgoolam, who previously worked as a doctor and a lawyer, served as prime minister between 1995 and 2000 and again from 2005 to 2014.
He is the son of Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who led Mauritius to independence from Britain in 1968.
Several teams sent to observe the legislative election — the 12th since independence — are due to issue their verdicts on Tuesday.
Indian Prime Minister Navendra Modi was the first foreign leader to publicly congratulate Ramgoolam, who is of Indian ancestry.
“I wished him great success in leading Mauritius and extended an invitation to visit India. Look forward to working closely together to strengthen our special and unique partnership,” Modi posted on X on Monday.
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