Navin Ramgoolam was sworn in as Prime Minister of Mauritius on Wednesday for a third term, following a landslide election victory that ousted the ruling coalition and brought him back to power after a decade in opposition.
Ramgoolam’s Alliance of Change coalition secured a sweeping victory in Sunday’s vote, winning 60 out of 66 parliamentary seats on the island.
“It was an incredible victory,” the 77-year-old leader said after the swearing-in ceremony held at the presidency near the capital, Port Louis, attended by politicians and diplomats.
“My mission is to ensure that Mauritius is a good place to live,” he added, as he begins his five-year term.
Ramgoolam’s coalition garnered 62.6% of the vote, compared to 27.8% for outgoing Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth’s Lepep Alliance.
Mauritius winner-takes-all election model often grants a single coalition control of parliament, which has contributed to political stability on the Indian Ocean island.
The Alliance of Change will be joined in the National Assembly by two legislators from Rodrigues, an autonomous island, with four additional seats filled under the “best losers” policy, bringing the total to 66 MPs.
The election, however, was marred by a wire-tapping scandal involving leaked recordings of politicians, diplomats, journalists, and civil society members.
The government’s response to ban social media backfired, facing public outcry and forcing the ban to be lifted within 24 hours.
Mauritius, with a per capita GDP of about $10,000 according to 2022 World Bank data, is often hailed as a model of economic and political stability in Africa.
However, analysts warn of challenges including governance concerns, corruption, and the need to diversify the economy.
Ramgoolam, a former doctor and lawyer, previously served as prime minister from 1995 to 2000 and 2005 to 2014.
He is the son of Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who led Mauritius to independence from Britain in 1968.
Both Ramgoolam and Jugnauth come from political dynasties that have shaped Mauritius leadership since independence.
AFP
