Mauritius' opposition coalition has achieved a resounding victory in the country's recent election, securing all seats in parliament and decisively rejecting the incumbent government. The governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, was unable to secure any of the 62 available seats, leading to a clear defeat.
Following the release of results from constituencies across the country, it became evident that the opposition, known as the Alliance for Change coalition, had emerged victorious in all 21 constituencies. This outcome marks a significant political shift and signals the return of Navin Ramgoolam as the country's prime minister. Ramgoolam previously held the position from 1995 to 2000 and again from 2005 to 2014.
Prime Minister Jugnauth, who has been in office since 2017, acknowledged the defeat even before all results were announced, citing the apparent landslide victory of the opposition. The election was marred by corruption allegations against the incumbent government, further contributing to the defeat.
The official results, which will include two seats from Rodrigues Island, are expected to be released on Tuesday. However, the opposition has already secured all 60 seats announced thus far, with an additional eight lawmakers to be nominated by the Electoral Supervisory Council, bringing the total parliamentary seats to 70.
Over 1 million registered voters participated in the election, which marked the 12th since Mauritius gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1968. The Indian Ocean island nation, located approximately 2,000 kilometers off Africa's east coast, is renowned for its stability and successful economy driven by sectors such as finance, tourism, and agriculture.
The election outcome reflects a significant shift in Mauritius' political landscape and sets the stage for a new government to lead the country forward. The peaceful and democratic nature of the election underscores Mauritius' status as one of Africa's most stable democracies, with a strong foundation for continued progress and development.
