2019 Mauritian general election

Summary

General elections were held in Mauritius on 7 November 2019. The result was a victory for the Mauritian Alliance, a coalition of the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), Muvman Liberater, Alan Ganoo Movement and Plateforme Militante, which won 42 of the 70 seats. Pravind Jugnauth of the MSM remained Prime Minister.

2019 Mauritian general election

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All 70 seats in the National Assembly
35 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Pravind Jugnauth Navin Ramgoolam
Party MSM Labour Party
Alliance Mauritian Alliance National Alliance
Seats won 42 17
Popular vote 805,036 699,807
Percentage 37.68% 32.76%

  Third party Fourth party
 
OPR
Leader Paul Bérenger Serge Clair
Party MMM OPR
Seats won 9 2
Popular vote 439,402 20,777
Percentage 20.57% 0.97%

Directly elected seats by parties and constituencies

Prime Minister before election

Pravind Jugnauth
MSM

Elected Prime Minister

Pravind Jugnauth
MSM

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.[1]

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.[2]

Results edit

The ruling Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) won over half of the seats in Parliament, meaning incumbent Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, who took over from his father Anerood Jugnauth in 2017, will serve a full five-year term as Prime Minister.[3]

Of the 62 directly-elected seats, the MSM won 38, the Labour Party won 14, the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) won 8, and the Rodrigues People's Organisation (OPR) won 2 seats from the island of Rodrigues.[3]

 
PartyVotes%Seats
ConsBLTotal
Mauritian Alliance (MSMML–MAG–PM)805,03637.6838442
National Alliance (PTRPMSD–MJCB)699,80732.7614317
Mauritian Militant Movement439,40220.57819
Reform Party30,3501.42000
Rodrigues People's Organisation20,7770.97202
Parti Kreol Morisien19,3020.90000
100 Citoyens19,1990.90000
Mauritian Solidarity Front12,8980.60000
Mauritian Social Democrat Party10,9750.51000
Lalians Lespwar7,1040.33000
Parti Malin5,2910.25000
Regroupement Socialiste Militant4,8490.23000
Les Verts Fraternels4,8030.22000
Lalit4,1190.19000
Mouvement Mauricien Social Démocrate3,5680.17000
Forum des Citoyens Libres3,1890.15000
Rodrigues Movement2,4620.12000
Front Patriotique Rodriguais Ecologique1,6560.08000
Mouvman Zeness Morisien1,4090.07000
Parti Lumière1,3070.06000
Muvman Independantis Rodriguais1,2310.06000
Mouvement Ene Sel Direction1,0800.05000
Mouvement Democratique Mauricien5880.03000
Ralliement Citoyen Pour La Patrie5030.02000
Republicain En Marche4930.02000
Front Socialiste4430.02000
Rassemblement Socialiste Mauricien3420.02000
Mouvement Entrepreneurs2850.01000
Small Planters, Labourers and Farmers Party2750.01000
Liberte sans Frontiere2360.01000
La Republique En Marche2280.01000
Mouvement Authentique Mauricien2060.01000
Party L'histoire Moris Selectif1690.01000
La Plateforme Sociale Curepipienne780.00000
Four Cats Political Party700.00000
Alliance pour L'Unité Mauricienne610.00000
Mauritian National Congress570.00000
Socialiste Militant Progressiste530.00000
Independents32,5121.52000
Total2,136,413100.0062870
Valid votes718,39899.06
Invalid/blank votes6,8380.94
Total votes725,236100.00
Registered voters/turnout941,71977.01
Source: OEC, OEC, OEC, OEC

Aftermath edit

Following the announcement of the results and the formation of a new government, several legal petitions were lodged in Supreme Court challenging the validity of the results, claiming electoral irregularities, a lack of transparency, undue influence by political activists and allegations of fraud and electoral bribery.[4] The presence of independent monitors was claimed to have been ineffective.[5] The government was also criticised for its intensive use of state media.[6] Murdered activist Kistnen was rumoured to be about to disclose details of how 1,200 Bangladeshi nationals had been taken to vote multiple times in different constituencies and that the MSM had exceeded spending limits.[7] However, according to international observers from the SADC and from the French diplomacy, the election was free and fair.[8][9]

References edit

  1. ^ Electoral system IPU
  2. ^ General information IPU
  3. ^ a b Jean Paul Arouff. "Mauritius elects incumbent PM for five-year term". www.nasdaq.com. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  4. ^ Kasenally, Roukaya (8 January 2020). "2019 General election in Mauritius: Is our democracy in danger?". L'Express. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Contestation des élections: quels autres recours que la justice pour l'opposition ?". L'Express. November 2019.
  6. ^ Spooner, Moina. "How Pravind Jugnauth clinched the win in Mauritius' elections". The Conversation.
  7. ^ Jasodanand, Narain (28 December 2020). "Affaire Kistnen: une bande organisée sévit-elle en toute liberté et sous haute protection?". L'Express. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Mauritius: SADC Observer Mission Endorses Mauritius Poll". 11 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Présentation de Maurice".