Mauritius election: Amid wiretapping scandal, what’s at stake?
Al JazeeraNOV 20 2024
Navim Ramgoolam, the leader of the opposition Alliance du Changement coalition, was appointed prime minister of Mauritius on Tuesday.Navin Ramgoolam, the leader of the opposition Alliance du Changement coalition, was appointed prime minister of Mauritius on Tuesday.
The son of the country's first post-independence leader will be in office for his fourth five-year term as he previously served as premier from 1995 to 2000 and between 2005 and 2014. A date for his swearing-in ceremony has yet to be set.The son of the country's first post-independence leader will be in office for his fourth five-year term as he previously served as prime minister from 1995 to 2000 and between 2005 and 2014. A date for his swearing-in ceremony has yet to be set.
This comes as his coalition won 62.6% of the vote in Sunday's general election — and 60 of the 70 seats in parliament. Meanwhile, the Lepep alliance got 28% of vote and now has only two seats, compared to 42 after the 2019 election.This comes as his coalition won 62.6% of the vote in Sunday's general election — and 60 of the 70 seats in parliament. Meanwhile, the Lepep alliance got 28% of the vote and now has only two seats, compared to 42 after the 2019 election.
During his tenure as prime minister, Jugnauth was able to maintain strong economic management and provide a secure environment for investors while securing a historic victory in reclaiming the Chagos Islands from the UK. Now that the country has chosen another team, the prime minister respects this decision.
Though the economy had rebounded year-on-year, Jugnauth had betrayed public trust through government-sanctioned illegal surveillance of citizens, opposition members, and journalists, — demonstrating a concerning pattern of authoritarian behavior. Now that he's no longer in power, he must face the consequences of suppressing information and dissent.