2024 Mauritian general election
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General elections are due to be held in Mauritius on 10 November 2024.[1]
Background
[edit]At the 2019 snap election, the governing Mauritian Alliance, led by Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, won re-election, securing 42 seats. The opposition National Alliance, led by former Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, won 17 seats. Former Prime Minister Paul Bérenger's Mauritian Militant Movement secured nine, and the Rodrigues Movement retained its two seats.[2][3] Jugnauth succeeded his father, Anerood Jugnauth, as prime minister in 2017, which was met with accusations of nepotism by the opposition.[4] Observers attributed the government's victory to economic growth and the commencement of infrastructure projects. The opposition and civil society groups alleged irregularities, including reports of misplaced ballots and inadequately trained election workers.[5]
After the election, Surendra Dayal, who unsuccessfully contested Prime Minister Jugnauth's constituency of Quartier Militare and Moka,[6] filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the constituency's result. Dayal claimed that Jugnauth and the other two successful candidates, who were also from the Mauritian Alliance, had engaged in bribery and undue influence to win their seats. The case was dismissed on appeal in 2023.[7]
Wire-tapping scandal
[edit]In October 2024, a wire-tapping scandal broke out; the phone calls of numerous journalists, politicians, civil society members and foreign diplomats were reportedly tapped and leaked on the internet. Prime Minister Jugnauth and the Mauritius Police Force claimed that artificial intelligence had modified the leaked calls. Journalists affected by the tapping, however, said the calls were authentic. One journalist alleged the government's AI claims were an attempt to deflect attention from the scandal's fallout.[8]
Jugnauth announced an emergency committee would investigate the breach. Citing national security concerns, the government implemented a social media ban on 1 November, to last until the day after the election. Four suspects, including a former CEO of Telecom Mauritius, were arrested that day. The opposition claimed the ban was politically motivated and aimed at preventing the Jugnauth government's defeat at the polls.[9] Following widespread public uproar, the government reversed the ban on 2 November.[10]
Electoral system
[edit]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.[11]
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.[12]
Nomination of candidates is scheduled to occur by 22 October.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Mauritius to hold legislative election on November 10". France 24. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ "Elections results". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Archived from the original on 3 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ "Mauritius PM's coalition strengthens Parliament grip after vote". Al Jazeera. 10 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ "Mauritians vote in first election since PM succeeded father". Al Jazeera. 7 November 2019. Archived from the original on 30 April 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Kasenally, Roukaya (25 November 2019). "How Pravind Jugnauth clinched the win in Mauritius' elections". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ "Legislative Election of 7 November 2019". Psephos. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ "Court upholds election of Mauritius PM in 2019". Reuters. London. 16 October 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ "Scandal Erupts in Mauritius as Wire-Tapping Allegations Emerge". News Moris. 27 October 2024. Archived from the original on 3 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ "Mauritius blocks social media until after election amid wiretapping row". Al Jazeera. 1 November 2024. Archived from the original on 3 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Kloren, Sarene (2 November 2024). "Mauritius lifts social media ban following outcry from civil rights groups". Independent Online. Archived from the original on 3 November 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Electoral system IPU
- ^ General information IPU
- ^ "Mauritius to hold legislative election on November 10". France 24. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
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| Rodrigues Assembly elections | |
| Local elections | |
