Navin Ramgoolam took the oath of office for his third term as Prime Minister of Mauritius on Wednesday, following his landslide election win, which dismantled the ruling coalition and brought the opposition leader back to power after a decade on the political sidelines.
The Alliance of Change coalition, led by Ramgoolam, won all 60 parliamentary seats available in Mauritius in the election held on Sunday out of 66 seats.
“What an incredible victory!” the 77-year-old remarked following the ceremony, which was held at the presidency near Port Louis and attended by numerous politicians and ambassadors.
“My goal is to ensure that Mauritius remains a great place to live,” stated Ramgoolam, who is set to serve a five-year term.
The former prime minister garnered 62.6 per cent of the vote, while his predecessor, Pravind Jugnauth, received 27.8 per cent as part of the Lepep Alliance.
Due to a winner-takes-all electoral system, singular coalitions often dominate parliament in this Indian Ocean island nation, which is regarded as an example of economic and political stability relative to many other African nations.
Two legislators from an independent party that represents Rodrigues, a hilly autonomous outer island, will join the Alliance of Change in the National Assembly.
Additionally, four other parliamentary seats have been designated under the “best losers” policy, bringing the total number of MPs to 66.
The election was marred by a major wire-tapping scandal involving leaked recordings of conversations among politicians, diplomats, civil society members, and journalists. The government initially responded by banning social media, but this action was overturned within 24 hours following public outrage.
According to World Bank figures from 2022, Mauritius enjoys a per capita GDP of approximately $10,000. However, analysts have raised concerns about declining governance, corruption, and the necessity of diversifying the economy.
Jugnauth and Ramgoolam belong to prominent families that have held leadership roles in Mauritius since the country gained independence from Britain in 1968.
Ramgoolam, who has experience as a doctor and a lawyer, was prime minister from 1995 to 2000 and again from 2005 to 2014. He is the son of Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the leader who guided Mauritius to its independence.
