the outgoing prime minister admits his defeat

The outgoing Mauritian Prime Minister, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, recognized on Monday November 11 his defeat in the legislative elections, marked by concerns about the political and economic stability of one of the most stable and richest democracies in Africa. “The population chose another team. I wish him good luck”he declared to the press, after a campaign marred by a large-scale telephone tapping scandal.

Mr. Jugnauth's Militant Socialist Movement and its allies hoped to retain their majority in the National Assembly (they held 42 seats out of 70), but the results at midday announced the victory of the Alliance of Change, led by Navin Ramgoolam, 77, leader of the Labor Party and former prime minister.

In this republic, which has only known three families at the head of its government since its independence in 1968, Pravind Jugnauth hoped to exercise a new five-year mandate at the end of this election. But a wiretapping scandal quickly marred his campaign after excerpts of telephone conversations with politicians, members of civil society, diplomats and journalists leaked on social media in October. In response, the authorities announced on 1^is November the blocking of social networks until the day after the election, before changing its mind in the face of the wrath of the opposition.

Fears of fraud

Following information disseminated by the press citing fears of fraud, police officers were deployed to the polling stations. Mr. Ramgoolam initially called for vigilance, but later assured that the vote had taken place without incident. “We are heading towards a big victory tomorrow [lundi]. The people are waiting for this liberation”he declared. “We are confident of victory, because the people appreciate our record”had also assured his opponent, Mr. Jugnauth.

During this election the two men also faced an alliance which presents itself as an alternative, whose slogan is « Neither Navin nor Pravind »which criticizes corruption and nepotism in the archipelago. A total of 891 candidates were in the running. Of these, 62 will be elected deputies at the end of the ballot.

Around a million voters were registered for these twelfth legislative elections in the history of the Republic of Mauritius. The alliance led by Mr. Jugnauth won the 2019 legislative elections, obtaining 42 seats, out of 70, in the National Assembly. This electoral victory established the legitimacy of the man who succeeded his father, Anerood Jugnauth, in 2017.

Navin Ramgoolam, former prime minister (1995-2000 and 2005-2014), is the son of Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who led the former British colony to independence before becoming its first head of government.

Mauritius concluded an agreement with the United Kingdom in October regarding the Chagos Archipelago, hailed by Mr. Jugnauth as the completion of the “decolonization”. The text provides, however, that “for an initial period of ninety-nine years”, London will be “authorized to exercise sovereign rights” on the American military base located there. Mauritius has claimed sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago since its acquisition in 1965 by London, which expelled its inhabitants to install the base there.