The Fort Worth Press - Mauritius awaits results of close-fought vote

USD -
AED 3.67298
AFN 67.838392
ALL 92.377753
AMD 386.688871
ANG 1.800698
AOA 913.501867
ARS 997.749987
AUD 1.533225
AWG 1.8015
AZN 1.696685
BAM 1.840129
BBD 2.017388
BDT 119.39484
BGN 1.84332
BHD 0.376948
BIF 2950.605261
BMD 1
BND 1.337248
BOB 6.928346
BRL 5.749196
BSD 0.999144
BTN 84.369678
BWP 13.59321
BYN 3.269728
BYR 19600
BZD 2.013907
CAD 1.39559
CDF 2869.000269
CHF 0.882845
CLF 0.03573
CLP 985.910432
CNY 7.219197
COP 4436.5
CRC 511.286119
CUC 1
CUP 26.5
CVE 103.742697
CZK 23.864198
DJF 177.924558
DKK 7.03017
DOP 60.208316
DZD 133.90598
EGP 49.311601
ETB 123.478326
EUR 0.94242
FJD 2.26405
GBP 0.78495
GEL 2.739844
GHS 16.285152
GMD 71.500677
GNF 8611.175145
GTQ 7.720606
GYD 209.01701
HKD 7.77825
HNL 25.215231
HTG 131.419485
HUF 386.209846
IDR 15764.55
ILS 3.760685
INR 84.396403
IQD 1308.851756
IRR 42104.999653
ISK 139.020092
JMD 158.767795
JOD 0.7092
JPY 155.00704
KES 129.000077
KGS 86.198496
KHR 4048.796323
KMF 460.374998
KRW 1400.10505
KWD 0.307602
KYD 0.832581
KZT 495.813105
LAK 21907.960971
LBP 89472.248097
LKR 292.168873
LRD 188.329711
LSL 18.052427
LTL 2.95274
LVL 0.60489
LYD 4.840941
MAD 9.911843
MDL 17.884664
MGA 4670.637273
MKD 58.073668
MMK 3247.960992
MOP 8.005344
MRU 39.705121
MUR 47.190381
MVR 15.459727
MWK 1732.200487
MXN 20.52669
MYR 4.454988
MZN 63.924954
NAD 18.051918
NGN 1676.549916
NIO 36.770621
NOK 11.085745
NPR 134.99873
NZD 1.687325
OMR 0.385005
PAB 0.999078
PEN 3.775893
PGK 4.01385
PHP 58.685504
PKR 277.683782
PLN 4.10188
PYG 7806.663468
QAR 3.64259
RON 4.68968
RSD 110.251954
RUB 98.551421
RWF 1371.17641
SAR 3.757102
SBD 8.351256
SCR 13.588024
SDG 601.502648
SEK 10.90703
SGD 1.33877
SLE 22.802706
SOS 571.033393
SRD 35.234978
STD 20697.981008
SVC 8.742614
SZL 18.043677
THB 34.738499
TJS 10.620208
TMT 3.5
TND 3.141024
TOP 2.342098
TRY 34.3586
TTD 6.789548
TWD 32.423986
TZS 2661.864976
UAH 41.382279
UGX 3671.15761
UYU 42.122199
UZS 12792.683443
VES 44.874228
VND 25353
XAF 617.19122
XCD 2.70255
XDR 0.752722
XOF 617.19122
XPF 112.21355
YER 249.774986
ZAR 18.047896
ZMK 9001.208892
ZMW 27.201475
ZWL 321.999592
  • RBGPF

    59.3400

    59.34

    +100%

  • CMSD

    -0.2100

    24.75

    -0.85%

  • RYCEF

    -0.0500

    7.11

    -0.7%

  • CMSC

    -0.1800

    24.54

    -0.73%

  • SCS

    0.0200

    13.67

    +0.15%

  • NGG

    -1.2400

    62.9

    -1.97%

  • BCC

    -2.0100

    141.13

    -1.42%

  • JRI

    -0.3000

    13.22

    -2.27%

  • VOD

    -0.8500

    8.47

    -10.04%

  • RIO

    -1.4000

    61.2

    -2.29%

  • AZN

    0.4000

    65.19

    +0.61%

  • RELX

    -1.2100

    46.59

    -2.6%

  • GSK

    -0.8300

    35.52

    -2.34%

  • BTI

    0.0900

    35.24

    +0.26%

  • BP

    -0.7600

    28.16

    -2.7%

  • BCE

    -0.1600

    27.69

    -0.58%

Mauritius awaits results of close-fought vote
Mauritius awaits results of close-fought vote / Photo: © AFP

Mauritius awaits results of close-fought vote

Mauritians are set to find out Monday who will govern their Indian Ocean island nation for the next five years after a hotly disputed election race.

Text size:

Both the incumbent Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth and his main rival Navin Ramgoolam claimed their political blocs had triumphed in Sunday's legislative poll.

Voters had voiced concern about the continued political and economic durability of one of the richest and most stable democracies in Africa, with the election overshadowed by an explosive phone-tapping scandal.

The poll came on the heels of an historic agreement last month that saw Britain cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following a long-running dispute.

But Jugnauth's hopes he would handily win a new term on the back of the deal were dented when secretly recorded phone calls of politicians, diplomats and journalists began to be leaked online last month.

Seeking to keep a lid on the scandal, the authorities announced a social media ban until after the election, before making an embarrassing climbdown in the face of opposition and media outrage.

The move added to concerns that Mauritius's much-vaunted democracy and civil liberties were being gradually eroded.

- Both sides confident -

Jugnauth's Militant Socialist Movement and its allies are seeking to hold on to their 42-seat majority in the 70-member National Assembly but face a stiff challenge from former prime minister Ramgoolam's Alliance of Change.

During a lively and sometimes heated campaign, both camps promised voters they would take measures to improve the lot of ordinary Mauritians who face cost of living difficulties despite strong economic growth.

"We are confident of winning because the people appreciate our record," 62-year-old Jugnauth said after polls closed, accusing the opposition of trying to hinder the smooth running of the vote.

Ramgoolam, 77, issued a similar declaration.

"We are heading towards a big victory tomorrow. The people are waiting for this liberation," he told reporters.

Both men are members of the dynasties that have dominated politics in Mauritius since it became independent from Britain in 1968.

A new bloc, the Linion Reform alliance, campaigned against the establishment politicians with the slogan "Neither Navin, Nor Pravind", and criticised corruption and nepotism.

Police had been stationed in polling stations across the country to ensure the security of the vote, while a number of international observers monitored the process.

Ramgoolam had warned early on polling day about the risk of fraud, while later saying that voting went off largely without incident.

- Robust turnout -

Ballot counting begins on Monday morning with results expected later in the day.

Turnout among the one million registered voters was expected to be around 80 percent, media commentators said, based on figures from a number of polling stations.

Sixty-two seats were up for grabs under a first-past-the-post system, with the remaining eight allocated under what is dubbed the "best loser" system.

The majority-Hindu nation has seen remarkable stability and growth since independence, building an economy based on tourism as well as financial services and textile manufacturing.

GDP growth was seven percent in 2023, but analysts say Mauritius needs to diversify its economy, and concerns about governance and corruption are growing.

The island is renowned for its spectacular palm-fringed white beaches and turquoise waters, attracting 1.3 million visitors last year.

The Chagos deal was a major success for the government, though Britain will retain a lease for a joint US military base on the island of Diego Garcia for an "initial" 99 years.

Jugnauth hailed it as the completion of the nation's "decolonisation".

But some have voiced concerns that president-elect Donald Trump's approach to the US military presence in the Indian Ocean might have repercussions for the agreement.

strs-txw/jj/ju/lb

P.Navarro--TFWP