The opposition in Mauritius wins the country’s elections by a landslide

JOHANNESBURG – Mauritius’ opposition coalition has won the country’s elections in a landslide and captured all the seats in the country’s parliament in a major rejection of the current government.

According to results released on Monday in several constituencies across the country, the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth failed to secure any of the 62 available seats that could be directly decided by voters.

Jagnauth admitted defeat before all results were announced. He said his Militant Socialist Movement coalition was heading for a massive defeat as it became clear that the opposition was winning in all 21 of the country’s constituencies.

The victory of the Alliance for Change coalition means the return of Navin Ramgoolam as prime minister of the country. He was Prime Minister from 1995 to 2000 and again from 2005 to 2014.

Jugnauth, who has been in power since 2017, had been seeking another five-year term on the Indian Ocean island, but his government faced corruption allegations after recordings of politicians and businesspeople were leaked online.

“The population has decided to choose another team. I wish the country the best of luck,” Jugnauth said on Monday.

Official results, including two seats from Rodrigues Island, are expected to be released on Tuesday, but the opposition has already won all 60 announced seats.

Another eight lawmakers will be nominated by the Electoral Supervisory Board, bringing the total to 70 parliamentary seats.

At least 1 million people were registered on Sunday to vote in the twelfth election since Mauritius gained independence from Britain in 1968.

Located approximately 2,000 kilometers off the east coast of Africa, Mauritius is recognized as one of the continent’s most stable democracies and has developed a successful economy since independence, supported by the financial, tourism and agricultural sectors.