2019 Mauritian general election

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2019 Mauritian general election
Flag of Mauritius.svg
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All 70 seats in the National Assembly
36 seats needed for a majority
 First partySecond party
  Pravind Kumar Jugnauth March 12, 2018 (1) (cropped).jpg Mr. Navin Ramgoolam 2018 (cropped).jpg
Leader Pravind Jugnauth Navin Ramgoolam
Party MSM Labour Party
Alliance Mauritian Alliance National Alliance
Seats won4217
Popular vote805,036699,807
Percentage37.68%32.76%
 Third partyFourth party
  The former Prime Minister and Leader of MMM, Mr. Paul Berenger calling on the President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, at Port Louis, in Mauritius on March 13, 2018 (cropped).jpg
OPR
Leader Paul Bérenger Serge Clair
Party MMM OPR
Seats won92
Popular vote439,40220,777
Percentage20.57%0.97%
SiegesMaurice2019.png
Results by constituency
Prime Minister before election

Pravind Jugnauth
MSM

Elected Prime Minister

Pravind Jugnauth
MSM

General elections were held in Mauritius on 7 November 2019. The result was a victory for the Mauritian Alliance, a coalition of the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), Muvman Liberater, Alan Ganoo Movement and Plateforme Militante, which won 42 of the 70 seats. Pravind Jugnauth of the MSM remained Prime Minister.

Contents

Electoral system

The National Assembly has 62 elected members elected in 20 three-seat constituencies and one two-seat constituency (the island of Rodrigues). The elections are held using the block vote system, whereby voters have as many votes as there are seats available. [1]

In addition to the elected members, the Electoral Supervisory Commission has the power to appoint a further eight members. The additional members are chosen from amongst the unsuccessful candidates who received the highest number of votes, and are appointed with the aim of balancing the parliamentary representation of different ethnic groups. [2]

Results

The ruling Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) won over half of the seats in Parliament, meaning incumbent Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, who took over from his father Anerood Jugnauth in 2017, will serve a full five-year term as Prime Minister. [3]

Of the 62 directly-elected seats, the MSM won 38, the Labour Party won 14, the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) won 8, and the Rodrigues People's Organisation (OPR) won 2 seats from the island of Rodrigues. [3]

The seat allocation was disproportional to votes received, with a Gallagher index measurement of 17.94. [4]

Mauritian Parliament 2019.svg
PartyVotes%Seats
ConsBLTotal
Mauritian Alliance (MSM–ML–MAG–PM)805,03637.6838442
National Alliance (PTR–PMSD–MJCB)699,80732.7614317
Mauritian Militant Movement 439,40220.57819
Reform Party 30,3501.42000
Rodrigues People's Organisation 20,7770.97202
Parti Kreol Morisien19,3020.90000
100 Citoyens19,1990.90000
Mauritian Solidarity Front 12,8980.60000
Mauritian Social Democrat Party 10,9750.51000
Lalians Lespwar7,1040.33000
Parti Malin 5,2910.25000
Regroupement Socialiste Militant4,8490.23000
Les Verts Fraternels 4,8030.22000
Lalit 4,1190.19000
Mouvement Mauricien Social Démocrate3,5680.17000
Forum des Citoyens Libres3,1890.15000
Rodrigues Movement 2,4620.12000
Front Patriotique Rodriguais Ecologique1,6560.08000
Mouvman Zeness Morisien1,4090.07000
Parti Lumière1,3070.06000
Muvman Independantis Rodriguais1,2310.06000
Mouvement Ene Sel Direction1,0800.05000
Mouvement Democratique Mauricien5880.03000
Ralliement Citoyen Pour La Patrie5030.02000
Republicain En Marche4930.02000
Front Socialiste4430.02000
Rassemblement Socialiste Mauricien3420.02000
Mouvement Entrepreneurs2850.01000
Small Planters, Labourers and Farmers Party2750.01000
Liberte sans Frontiere2360.01000
La Republique En Marche2280.01000
Mouvement Authentique Mauricien2060.01000
Party L'histoire Moris Selectif1690.01000
La Plateforme Sociale Curepipienne780.00000
Four Cats Political Party700.00000
Alliance pour L'Unité Mauricienne610.00000
Mauritian National Congress570.00000
Socialiste Militant Progressiste530.00000
Independents32,5121.52000
Total2,136,413100.0062870
Valid votes718,39899.06
Invalid/blank votes6,8380.94
Total votes725,236100.00
Registered voters/turnout941,71977.01
Source: OEC, OEC, OEC, OEC

Aftermath

Following the announcement of the results and the formation of a new government, several legal petitions were lodged in Supreme Court challenging the validity of the results, claiming electoral irregularities, a lack of transparency, undue influence by political activists and allegations of fraud and electoral bribery. [5] The presence of independent monitors was claimed to have been ineffective. [6] The government was also criticised for its intensive use of state media. [7] Murdered activist Kistnen was rumoured to be about to disclose details of how 1,200 Bangladeshi nationals had been taken to vote multiple times in different constituencies and that the MSM had exceeded spending limits. [8] However, according to international observers from the SADC and from the French diplomacy, the election was free and fair. [9] [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Mauritius</span>

Politics of Mauritius takes place in a framework of a parliamentary democracy. The separation of powers is among the three branches of the Government of Mauritius, namely the legislative, the executive and the Judiciary, is embedded in the Constitution of Mauritius. Being a Westminster system of government, Mauritius's unicameral house of parliament officially, the National Assembly, is supreme. It elects the President and the Prime Minister. While the President is voted by a single majority of votes in the house, the Prime Minister is the MP who supports a majority in the house. The President is the Head of State while the prime minister has full executive power and is the Head of Government who is assisted by a council of Ministers. Mauritius has a multi-party system. The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Mauritius a "full democracy" in 2022.

<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

The Mouvement Militant Mauricien is a left-wing socialist political party in Mauritius. The party was founded by a group of students in the late 1960s. The MMM advocates a "fairer" society, without discrimination on the basis of social class, race, community, caste, religion, gender or sexual orientation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Mauritius</span>

Since 1967, Mauritius has experienced 12 free and fair democratic general elections to choose a government.

The Labour Party is a centre-left social-democratic political party in Mauritius. It is one of four main Mauritian political parties, along with the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) and the Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate (PMSD). The party is led by Navin Ramgoolam. It tends to be more popular amongst Indo-Mauritians, especially in more rural areas.

The Militant Socialist Movement is a centre-left political party in Mauritius. It is the single largest political party in the National Assembly of Mauritius, having won 42 of the 69 seats in the 2019 general elections. It also holds the largest number of seats in all city/town councils through the country with 60 councillors out of 120. The party tends to be more popular amongst Indo-Mauritians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 Mauritian general election</span>

General elections were held in Mauritius on 3 July 2005, with votes counted on 4 July.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 Mauritian general election</span>

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Mauritian general election</span>

General elections were held in Mauritius on 5 May 2010. The coalition comprising Mauritius Labour Party under Navin Ramgoolam, the Militant Socialist Movement under Pravind Jugnauth and the Mauritian Social Democrat Party under Xavier Luc Duval won a majority with 41 seats in the parliament. The Mauritian Militant Movement-led coalition under Paul Berenger finished second with 18 seats. The Mauritian Solidarity Front won one seat and the Rodrigues Movement won the two remaining seats. The elections were the ninth to be held since independence from the United Kingdom in 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pravind Jugnauth</span> Prime Minister of Mauritius since 2017

Pravind Kumar Jugnauth is a Mauritian politician serving as the prime minister of Mauritius since January 2017. Jugnauth has been the leader of the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) party since April 2003. He has held a number of ministerial portfolios and also been Leader of the Opposition.

Ashock Kumar Jugnauth, also known as Ashok Jugnauth is a Mauritian politician and former Member of Parliament.

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

General elections were held in Mauritius on 20 December 1995. The result was a landslide victory for the Labour Party-Mauritian Militant Movement alliance led by Navin Ramgoolam, which won all 60 constituency seats on Mauritius. Along with 1982, it was one of two elections in which a party won every seat. The Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) led by Anerood Jugnauth lost power after 13 years, with Jugnauth resigning two days after the results were announced. Navin Ramgoolam became Prime Minister and appointed Paul Berenger as Deputy Prime Minister.

The Militant Socialist Movement/Mauritian Militant Movement (MSM/MMM) is coalition party that formed the government of the Republic of Mauritius from September 2000 to July 2005. The coalition has been reformed in April 2012 after an electoral agreement between the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) and Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) was made with Sir Anerood Jugnauth as leader. The agreements remain the same, 30 seats for the MMM and 30 seats for the MSM. It has also been conveyed that SAJ would be prime minister for 3 years and Paul Berenger would take over for the rest of the parliamentary term if the coalition wins the next general elections. It has also been agreed that Pravind Jugnauth who is leader of the MSM will not be in the Front Bench of the coalition in an eventual government of the MSM/MMM. This is because he has been provisionally charged with using office for gratification by the Independent Commission Against Corruption. He will therefore seat as a back-bencher until he is dismissed from all accusations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alliance de L'Avenir</span> Political coalition in Mauritius

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1983 Mauritian general election</span>

General elections were held in Mauritius on 21 August 1983. The result was a victory for an alliance of the Militant Socialist Movement, the Labour Party and the Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate, which between them won 46 seats. The Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) won 32 seats, whilst the Labour Party secured nine seats and PMSD five. This alliance allowed Jugnauth to continue as Prime Minister while bringing Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and Gaetan Duval back into the government after their severe defeat in the 1982 elections. Shortly after, Ramgoolam was appointed as Governor General, Duval became Deputy Prime Minister and Satcam Boolell became Minister of Foreign Affairs. Voter turnout was 85%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nando Bodha</span> Mauritian politician

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maya Hanoomanjee</span> High Commissioner of Mauritius to India

Santi Bai 'Maya' Hanoomanjee GCSK is the High Commissioner of Mauritius to India. She is a Mauritian politician and former Civil Servant who was the speaker of the National Assembly of Mauritius from December 2014 to November 2019. She was the first woman to hold this constitutional office and accordingly was the highest ranked female in the republic. She is a former Minister of Health of Mauritius who served from 11 May 2010 until the coalition government of Mauritian Labour Party & Militant Socialist Movement dissolved in July 2011. She served in Navin Ramgoolam's Cabinet. She served as 2nd Member of Parliament elected in constituency no 14, Black River & La Savanne from 2005 to 2014. She is a member of the MSM and was the first woman to hold the office of Speaker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Mauritian general election</span>

General elections were held in Mauritius on 10 December 2014 and resulted in a landslide victory for the Alliance Lepep coalition, which secured 47 of the elected seats under the leadership of Sir Anerood Jugnauth. The Labour Party–Mauritian Militant Movement (PTR–MMM) alliance led by Navin Ramgoolam got 13 seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Mauritian general election</span>

General elections are due to be held in Mauritius on 10 November 2024.

References

  1. ↑ Electoral system IPU
  2. ↑ General information IPU
  3. 1 2 Jean Paul Arouff. "Mauritius elects incumbent PM for five-year term". www.nasdaq.com. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  4. ↑ https://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/about/people/michael_gallagher/ElSystems/Docts/ElectionIndices.pdf
  5. ↑ Kasenally, Roukaya (8 January 2020). "2019 General election in Mauritius: Is our democracy in danger?". L'Express. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  6. ↑ "Contestation des élections: quels autres recours que la justice pour l'opposition ?". L'Express. November 2019.
  7. ↑ Spooner, Moina. "How Pravind Jugnauth clinched the win in Mauritius' elections". The Conversation.
  8. ↑ Jasodanand, Narain (28 December 2020). "Affaire Kistnen: une bande organisée sévit-elle en toute liberté et sous haute protection?". L'Express. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  9. ↑ "Mauritius: SADC Observer Mission Endorses Mauritius Poll". 11 November 2019.
  10. ↑ "Présentation de Maurice".
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