Navin Ramgoolam, leader of the opposition in Mauritius, announced on Tuesday that his Alliance of Change coalition had achieved a decisive victory over the ruling government in Sunday’s parliamentary election. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth admitted to facing a “significant defeat.”
Ramgoolam, a former prime minister who has held the office twice before, addressed jubilant supporters in his constituency, proclaiming that his alliance had secured a sweeping victory across all parliamentary seats in Mauritius.
“I hope PKJ resigns soon. He was beaten 60-0,” Ramgoolam said, using Jugnauth’s initials.
“The power of the people is stronger than a dictatorship,” the 77-year-old declared amidst loud cheers and honking car horns.
Mauritius’ National Assembly consists of 60 seats on the main island and an additional two on Rodrigues, all contested in this election. Another eight seats are filled using a “best loser” system aimed at promoting balanced representation.
While official results are yet to be confirmed, Jugnauth acknowledged on Monday that his Militant Socialist Movement (MSM)-led Lepep coalition was on the path to a considerable loss.
Mauritius uses a winner-takes-all voting model, often resulting in single coalitions dominating its 70-seat parliament.
Just last month, Jugnauth celebrated a landmark agreement with Britain to return sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after decades of dispute. However, the election campaign was clouded by a high-profile wiretapping scandal, with leaked recordings implicating politicians, diplomats, and journalists.