Indian Ocean island-nation of Mauritius heads to the polls for parliamentary election
The small Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius will head to the polls today for parliamentary elections that will decide the composition of the 70-seat parliament.
Today’s vote marks the first time Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth faces a popular mandate—he was appointed to the top job upon his father’s retirement in 2017.
The two main opposition candidates, Navin Ramgoolam and Paul Berenger, are claiming that Jugnauth ascended to his position through nepotism and that he has misappropriated public funds.
If Jugnauth wins, which is the most likely outcome due to successful campaigning leading up to the election, expect him to continue his platform of economic reform, which has developed Mauritius into one of Africa’s wealthiest nations by expanding tourism and the financial sectors as well as introducing a minimum wage.
If either of the two opposition candidates obtain a majority, expect them to tackle Mauritius’s involvement in facilitating tax havens as well as improve Christian and Muslim minority representation. Even if neither Ramgoolam nor Berenger secure a majority, they are likely to attempt to form a coalition to oust Jugnauth.
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