Mauritian general election, 2000

Mauritian general election, 2000
	← List of MPs elected in the Mauritian general election, 1995
All 70 seats in the National Assembly ; 35 seats needed for a majority
Prime Minister before election; Navin Ramgoolam ; Labour Party	Subsequent Prime Minister; Sir Anerood Jugnauth ; MSM

Last updated April 23, 2019

The 2000 Mauritian general elections took place on 11 September 2000 for the National Assembly of Mauritius with the votes counted on 12 September 2000.

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; Bérenger would become the first non-Hindu Prime Minister of Mauritius.^[1]

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

The Militant Socialist Movement is a centre-left political party in Mauritius that adheres to the philosophies of socialism and political democracy. It is the largest single political party in the National Assembly of Mauritius, winning 34 of the 69 seats in the 2014 general elections. With political development, 6 MPs from the opposition joined officially the party making the current majority at 40. It also holds the largest number of seats in all city/town councils through the country with 60 councilors out of 120.

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.

Background

The Mauritian 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]

Navinchandra Ramgoolam, GCSK, FRCP is a Mauritian politician who was Prime Minister of Mauritius from 2005 to 2014 and leader of the Labour Party. He was Leader of the Opposition from 1991 to 1995. He served as Prime Minister for the first time from December 1995 until September 2000, and became Leader of the Opposition again from October 2000 to 4 July 2005. On 5 July 2005, he became prime minister for a second term after his Alliance Sociale won the general elections. He served again as Prime Minister from 2005 to 2014, when he was defeated afterwards.

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]

The President of Mauritius is the Head of State of the Republic of Mauritius. Mauritius is a parliamentary republic, and the President functions as a ceremonial figurehead, elected by the National Assembly as set out by the Constitution of Mauritius. The current office-holder is Barlen Vyapoory who is serving on an acting capacity following Ameenah Gurib-Fakim's resignation. The President's official residence is the State House.

Election rules

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. 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]

Chinese people are the various individuals or ethnic groups associated with China, usually through ancestry, ethnicity, nationality, citizenship or other affiliation. Han Chinese, the largest ethnic group in China, at about 92% of the population, are often referred to as "Chinese" or "ethnic Chinese" in English, however there are dozens of other related and unrelated ethnic groups in China.

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 dominate 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]

Election results

e • d **Summary of the 11 September 2000 National Assembly of Mauritius election results**
Parties and alliances	Votes	%	Seats	Additional seats	total seats
Alliance MSM-MMM Mauritian Militant Movement (Mouvement Militant Mauricien) Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialiste Mauricien)		51.7	54	4	58
Alliance MLP-PMXD Mauritian Labour Party (Parti Travailliste) Mauritian Party of Xavier-Luc Duval (Parti Mauricien Xavier-Luc Duval)		36.6	6	2	8
Rodrigues People's Organisation (Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais)			2	0	2
Rodrigues Movement (Mouvement Rodriguais)			0	2	2
Total (Turnout 80.9%)	630,726	100.0	62	8	70
Source: Elections in Mauritius

Constituency winners

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

Source: Elected members of the National Assembly election held on 11 September 2000

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References

1 2 "Early results indicate opposition landslide in Mauritius elections". CNN . 2000-09-12. Archived from the original on 2007-10-06. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
1 2 3 "Mauritius Pundits Predict Opposition Victory". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-08. Archived from the original on December 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
↑ "Carnival Atmosphere As Thousands End Mauritian Polls". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-10. Archived from the original on December 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
↑ "Smooth Turnover Following Mauritian Election". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-14. Archived from the original on November 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
↑ "Opposition alliance wins by landslide in Mauritius vote". CNN . 2000-09-12. Retrieved 2007-12-25. ^{[ dead link ]}
↑ "Color, contradictions mark run-up to Mauritius elections". CNN . 2000-09-10. Archived from the original on 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
↑ "Mauritian voters trek to polls in ideal conditions". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-11. Archived from the original on 2007-08-26. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
↑ "Sadc Parliamentary Forum Applauds Mauritian Election". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-13. Archived from the original on December 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
↑ "Mauritius opposition landslide win". BBC Online . 2000-09-12. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
↑ "Mauritian Election Results Disappoint Gender Activists". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-14. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-31.

External links

Full results of the election

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[early-1] 1 2 "Early results indicate opposition landslide in Mauritius elections". CNN . 2000-09-12. Archived from the original on 2007-10-06. Retrieved 2007-12-25.

[opposition-2] 1 2 3 "Mauritius Pundits Predict Opposition Victory". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-08. Archived from the original on December 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-31.

[rules-3] "Carnival Atmosphere As Thousands End Mauritian Polls". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-10. Archived from the original on December 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-26.

[turnover-4] "Smooth Turnover Following Mauritian Election". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-14. Archived from the original on November 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-31.

[full-5] "Opposition alliance wins by landslide in Mauritius vote". CNN . 2000-09-12. Retrieved 2007-12-25. ^{[ dead link ]}

[promises-6] "Color, contradictions mark run-up to Mauritius elections". CNN . 2000-09-10. Archived from the original on 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2007-12-26.

[alcohol-7] "Mauritian voters trek to polls in ideal conditions". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-11. Archived from the original on 2007-08-26. Retrieved 2007-12-26.

[praise-8] "Sadc Parliamentary Forum Applauds Mauritian Election". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-13. Archived from the original on December 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-26.

[bbc-9] "Mauritius opposition landslide win". BBC Online . 2000-09-12. Retrieved 2007-12-25.

[gender-10] "Mauritian Election Results Disappoint Gender Activists". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-14. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-31.