2000 Mauritian general election

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2000 Mauritian general election
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All 62 directly elected seats in the National Assembly (and up to 8 BLS seats)
 First partySecond party
  President of Mauritius Rt.Hon Sir Anerood Jugnauth (cropped).jpg Navinchandra Ramgoolam portrait 2.jpg
Leader Anerood Jugnauth Navin Ramgoolam
Party MSM Labour Party
Alliance MSM/MMM Ptr–PMXD
Seats won546
Popular vote951,643672,336
Percentage51.34%36.27%
Prime Minister before election

Navin Ramgoolam
Labour Party

Subsequent Prime Minister

Anerood Jugnauth
MSM

General elections were held in Mauritius on 11 September 2000 to elect the members of the National Assembly.

Contents

The opposition Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) party decisively won the elections in coalition with the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), defeating the governing Mauritian Labour Party (MLP) led coalition. They formed together the MSM/MMM As a result, in a pre-election deal Anerood Jugnauth of the Militant Socialist Movement became Prime Minister of Mauritius before handing over to Paul Bérenger of the Mauritian Militant Movement in 2003. [1]

Background

The Labour Party led by Navin Ramgoolam had governed Mauritius since winning the 1995 election. A new election had to be held by December 2000 and Ramgoolam dissolved parliament to call the election on 11 August 2000. He expected to be able to win the election in a three-way contest with the Mauritian Militant Movement and Militant Socialist Movement parties splitting the opposition vote between them. [2] However ten days after the election was called the two main opposition parties agreed a deal. [1] [2]

The MSM led by Anerood Jugnauth and MMM led by Paul Bérenger agreed that if they won the election Jugnauth would become prime minister. They agreed that after three years he would step down as prime minister to become the president of Mauritius with enhanced powers, and that Bérenger would become prime minister, the first non-Hindu to do so. [2]

Electoral system

The election was conducted under the first past the post system with three Members of parliament being elected from each of 20 mainland constituencies. A further two MPs were elected from the island of Rodrigues. Each voter was required to vote for three candidates with the possibility of panachage. Once these 62 MPs were decided the Supervisory Electoral Commission chose the eight 'best losers' to prevent any ethnic community or political party from being underrepresented. The Commission chose four MPs to balance the ethnic groups (Hindus, Muslims, Chinese and general population) and another four to balance the political parties. The 'best losers' could only come from candidates who came fourth in the 20 mainland constituencies. [3] [4]

Campaign

There were 43 parties putting forth 535 candidates but the main contest was between the two main coalitions that campaigned on similar platforms with the economy being the dominant election issue. [5] The governing Mauritian Labour Party promised to raise civil servants' wages and reduce the prices of drinks while the main opposition attacked corruption. Both the government and opposition parties pledged to create 70,000 jobs. [6]

The campaign was peaceful and election day was quiet with the sale or serving of alcohol banned for two days during the election to prevent trouble. [7] Observers from the Southern African Development Community praised the election for its efficient and fair conduct and the high turnout. [8] The opposition Mauritian Militant Movement and Militant Socialist Movement parties won a decisive victory almost wiping out the governing party and the Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam admitted defeat the day after the election. [9] Gender activists were disappointed with the results which saw only four seats won by women, a decline on the previous election in 1995. [10]

Results

Mauritian Parliament 2000.svg
PartyVotes%Seats
ConsBLTotal
MMM–MSM 951,64351.3454458
Labour Party–PMXD 672,33636.27628
Hizbullah 59,2323.20000
National Democratic Movement Raj Dayal54,9602.97000
Rodrigues People's Organisation 17,3170.93202
Rodrigues Movement 15,8010.85022
Lalit 14,9600.81000
Mauritian People's Party6,4780.35000
Nouvo Lizour5,1520.28000
Tamil Council3,7870.20000
Liberal Action Party3,4440.19000
Mauritian Authentic Movement3,2250.17000
Mauritian Action Committee2,6680.14000
Mauritian Democratic Movement2,2110.12000
Mauritian Union1,6720.09000
Mauritian National Movement1,4850.08000
Agricultural Planter Movement6650.04000
Mauritian Democracy4900.03000
Mauritian Party of Xavier-Luc Duval 4490.02000
Socialist Labour Party1200.01000
Mauritius Party Rights1070.01000
Independents35,2631.90000
Total1,853,465100.0062870
Valid votes623,46398.85
Invalid/blank votes7,2631.15
Total votes630,726100.00
Registered voters/turnout780,03180.86
Source: Electoral Commission, African Elections Database

Constituency winners

ConstituencyElected MPsParty AllianceReligion
1BARBIER, Jean Claude
NAVARRE-MARIE, Marie Arianne
ARMANCE, Jean- Claude Louis Desiré		MSM/MMMChristians
2LEUNG SHING, Emmanuel Jean
BEEBEEJAUN, Ahmed Rashid
MAUDARBOCUS, Sahid		MSM/MMM
Labour Party–PMXD
MSM/MMM		Chinese
Muslim
Muslim
3LAUTHAN, Samioullah
CHADY, Mohummud Siddick
NANHUCK, Mohammad		MSM/MMM
Labour Party–PMXD
MSM/MMM		Muslim
4CHUMROO, Meckduth
GRIVON, Gérard Clifford
LESJONGARD, Georges Pierre		MSM/MMMHindu
Christian
5Navin Ramgoolam
JHURRY, Jyaneshwur
HURNAM, Devendranath		Labour Party–PMXD
MSM/MMM
MSM/MSM		Hindu
6JEEHA, Deelchand,
GUNGAH, Ashit Kumar
DULLOO, Madan Murlidhar		MSM/MMM
MSM/MMM
Labour Party–PMXD		Hindu
7 Sir Anerood Jugnauth
HOOKOOM, Balkissoon
MEENOWA, Jai Prakash		MSM/MMM
Labour Party–PMXD
MSM/MMM		Hindu
8RAMLOLL, Parmessur
Ashok Jugnauth
NAGALINGUM, Darmarajen		MSM/MMMHindu
9BACHOO, Anil Kumar
Sangeet Fowdar
KOONJOO, Premdut		MSM/MMMHindu
10CHOONEE, Mookhesswur
GUNNESS, Govindranath
DAUREEAWOO, Rashad		MSM/MMMHindu
Hindu
Muslim
11 Pravind Jugnauth
BOOLELL, Arvin
BHOWON, Rajayswur		MSM/MMM
Labour Party–PMXD
MSM/MMM		Hindu
12GAYAN, Anil Kumarsingh
ROOPUN, Dharmaveersing
COLLENDAVELLOO, Ivan Leslie		MSM/MMMHindu
Hindu
Christian
13AUMEER, Hurreeprem
ISSIMDAR, Abdool Nasser
BALOOMOODY, Vedasingam Vasudevachariar
MSM/MMMHindu
Muslims
Hindu
14 Alan Ganoo
ARUNASALON, José
ROOPUN, Prithvirajsing,		MSM/MMMHindu
Christian
Hindu
15DOOKUN LUCHOOMUN, Leela Devi
OBEEGADOO, Louis Steven
SOODHUN, Showkutally		MSM/MMMHindu
Christian
Muslim
16BODHA, Nandcoomar
SAKARAM, Sewram
MICHEL, Louis Sylvio		MSM/MMMHindu
Hindu
Christian
17GUIMBEAU, Eric Joseph Raoul
PAYA, Marie José Gerard
DOWARKASING, Mokshanand		MSM/MMMChristian
Hindu
18KHUSHIRAM, Khushhal Chand,
AUROOMOOGA PUTTEN, Prithviraj,
PERRIER, Anne-Marie Danielle		MSM/MMMHindu
Christian
19 Paul Berenger
CUTTAREE, Jaya Krishna
ABDOOLA, Mohamed Feroz		MSM/MMMChristian
Hindu
Muslim
20BHAGWAN, Rajesh Anand
LABELLE, Marie Noëlle Françoise
ALLET, Daniel Jean Maurice		MSM/MMMHindu
Christian
Source: Government of Mauritius

Related Research Articles

The known and sometimes formally documented history of Mauritius begins with its possible discovery by Austronesians under the Austronesian expansion from pre-Han Taiwan, circa 1500 to 1000 BC, and then by Arabs,, followed by Portuguese and its appearance on European maps in the early 16th century. Mauritius was successively colonized by the Netherlands, France and Great Britain, and became independent on 12 March 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anerood Jugnauth</span> Mauritian statesman (1930–2021)

Sir Anerood Jugnauth, GCSK, PV, was a Mauritian statesman, politician and barrister who served both as President and Prime Minister of Mauritius. He was Member of Parliament for Piton & Riviere Du Rempart. A central figure of Mauritian politics in the 1980s and 1990s, he was Leader of the Opposition from 1976 to 1982. He served four consecutive terms as prime minister from 1982 to 1995 and again from 2000 to 2003. He was then elected as President from 2003 to 2012. Following his party's victory in the 2014 general elections, he served his sixth and final term as prime minister, becoming the nation's longest serving prime minister with more than 18 years of tenure, overtaking Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who held the office for 14 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Bérenger</span> Prime Minister of Mauritius from 2003 to 2005

Paul Raymond Bérenger is a Mauritian politician who was Prime Minister of Mauritius from 2003 to 2005. He has been Leader of the Opposition on several occasions – from 1983 to 1987, 1997 to 2000, 2005 to 2006, 2007 to 2013, October 2013 to 15 September 2014, and again from December 2014 to December 2016 when he was replaced by Xavier-Luc Duval. Following his party's defeat in the 2014 general elections, he became Leader of the Opposition for the sixth time, making him the longest ever to serve in this constitutional position. He was also deputy prime minister from 1995 to 1997 and again from 2000 to 2003, and he was a cabinet minister in the government of Anerood Jugnauth in 1982 and 1991. Bérenger, a Christian of Franco-Mauritian descent, has been the only non-Hindu prime minister of Mauritius, or, more particularly, the only prime minister who has not belonged to the Jugnauth or Ramgoolam families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mauritian Militant Movement</span> Political party in Mauritius

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navin Ramgoolam</span> Prime Minister of Mauritius (born 1947)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Militant Socialist Movement</span> Political party in Mauritius

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 Mauritian general election</span>

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Nandcoomar Bodha MP is a Mauritian politician and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mauritius. He was also the Minister of Tourism & Leisure of Mauritius. He has been holding the office since 11 May 2010 to 26 July 2011, He held the same office from 2000 to 2003 in the MSM/MMM coalition government. When Pravind Jugnauth was sworn as Deputy Prime Minister, he took the office of Minister of Agriculture in 2003 up to 2005.He was appointed 8th position in the Cabinet of Navin Ramgoolam.

Leela Devi Dookun Luchoomun MP GCSK is the former Minister of Social Security of Mauritius serving in the cabinet of Navin Ramgoolam having been appointed on 11 May 2010 by President Anerood Jugnauth. She is Member of Parliament representing Constituency No 8, Moka & Quartier Militaire. She is a former Minister of Arts & Culture serving in the cabinet of Paul Berenger for a short period of 6 months.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Early results indicate opposition landslide in Mauritius elections". CNN. 12 September 2000. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 "Mauritius Pundits Predict Opposition Victory". Sustainable democracy. 8 September 2000. Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  3. ↑ "Carnival Atmosphere As Thousands End Mauritian Polls". Sustainable democracy. 10 September 2000. Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2007.
  4. ↑ "Smooth Turnover Following Mauritian Election". Sustainable democracy. 14 September 2000. Archived from the original on 30 November 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
  5. ↑ "Opposition alliance wins by landslide in Mauritius vote". CNN. 12 September 2000. Retrieved 25 December 2007.[ permanent dead link ][ dead link ]
  6. ↑ "Color, contradictions mark run-up to Mauritius elections". CNN. 10 September 2000. Archived from the original on 7 October 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2007.
  7. ↑ "Mauritian voters trek to polls in ideal conditions". Sustainable democracy. 11 September 2000. Archived from the original on 26 August 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2007.
  8. ↑ "Sadc Parliamentary Forum Applauds Mauritian Election". Sustainable democracy. 13 September 2000. Archived from the original on 6 December 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2007.
  9. ↑ "Mauritius opposition landslide win". BBC Online . 12 September 2000. Retrieved 25 December 2007.
  10. ↑ "Mauritian Election Results Disappoint Gender Activists". Sustainable democracy. 14 September 2000. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
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