2000 Mauritian general election

The 2000 Mauritian general elections took place on 11 September 2000 for the National Assembly of Mauritius with the votes counted on 12 September 2000.

2000 Mauritian general election

12 September 2000 (2000-09-12)

All 70 seats in the National Assembly
35 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader Sir Anerood Jugnauth Navin Ramgoolam
Party MSM Labour Party
Alliance MSM/MMM Ptr-PMXD
Leader since 1983 1991
Leader's seat Piton & Riviere Du Rempart Pamplemousses and Triolet
Last election 0 seats 60 seats
Seats before 0 60
Seats won 54 6
Seat change 54 44
Popular vote 944,521 670,631
Percentage 51.7 % 36.6%
Swing 31.9% 14.7%

Prime Minister before election

Navin Ramgoolam
Labour Party

Subsequent Prime Minister

Sir Anerood Jugnauth
MSM

The opposition Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) party decisively won the elections in coalition with the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), defeating the governing Mauritian Labour Party (MLP) led coalition. They formed together the MSM/MMM As a result, in a pre-election deal Anerood Jugnauth of the Militant Socialist Movement became Prime Minister of Mauritius before handing over to Paul Bérenger of the Mauritian Militant Movement in 2003; Bérenger would become the first non-Hindu Prime Minister of Mauritius.[1]

Background

The Mauritian Labour Party led by Navin Ramgoolam had governed Mauritius since winning the 1995 election. A new election had to be held by December 2000 and Ramgoolam dissolved parliament to call the election on 11 August 2000. He expected to be able to win the election in a three-way contest with the Mauritian Militant Movement and Militant Socialist Movement parties splitting the opposition vote between them.[2] However ten days after the election was called the two main opposition parties agreed a deal.[1][2]

The MSM led by Anerood Jugnauth and MMM led by Paul Bérenger agreed that if they won the election Jugnauth would become Prime Minister. They agreed that after three years he would step down as Prime Minister to become the President of Mauritius with enhanced powers, and that Bérenger would become Prime Minister, the first non-Hindu to do so.[2]

Election rules

The election was conducted under the first past the post system with three Members of parliament being elected from each of 20 mainland constituencies. A further two MPs were elected from the island of Rodrigues. Each voter was required to vote for three candidates. Once these 62 MPs were decided the Supervisory Electoral Commission chose the eight 'best losers' to prevent any ethnic community or political party from being underrepresented. The Commission chose four MPs to balance the ethnic groups (Hindus, Muslims, Chinese and general population) and another four to balance the political parties. The 'best losers' could only come from candidates who came fourth in the 20 mainland constituencies.[3][4]

Campaign

There were 43 parties putting forth 535 candidates but the main contest was between the two main coalitions that campaigned on similar platforms with the economy being the dominate election issue.[5] The governing Mauritian Labour Party promised to raise civil servants' wages and reduce the prices of drinks while the main opposition attacked corruption. Both the government and opposition parties pledged to create 70,000 jobs.[6]

The campaign was peaceful and election day was quiet with the sale or serving of alcohol banned for two days during the election to prevent trouble.[7] Observers from the Southern African Development Community praised the election for its efficient and fair conduct and the high turnout.[8] The opposition Mauritian Militant Movement and Militant Socialist Movement parties won a decisive victory almost wiping out the governing party and the Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam admitted defeat the day after the election.[9] Gender activists were disappointed with the results which saw only four seats won by women, a decline on the previous election in 1995.[10]

Election results

 Summary of the 11 September 2000 National Assembly of Mauritius election results
Parties and alliances Votes % Seats Additional seats total seats
Alliance MSM-MMM 51.7 54 4 58
Alliance MLP-PMXD 36.6 6 2 8
Rodrigues People's Organisation (Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais) 2 0 2
Rodrigues Movement (Mouvement Rodriguais) 0 2 2
Total (Turnout 80.9%) 630,726 100.0 62 8 70
Source: Elections in Mauritius

Constituency winners

ConstituencyElected MPsParty AllianceReligion
1BARBIER, Jean Claude
NAVARRE-MARIE, Marie Arianne
ARMANCE, Jean- Claude Louis Desiré
MSM/MMMChristians
2LEUNG SHING, Emmanuel Jean
BEEBEEJAUN, Ahmed Rashid
MAUDARBOCUS, Sahid
MSM/MMM
Labour Party-PMXD
MSM/MMM
Chinese
Muslim
Muslim
3LAUTHAN, Samioullah
CHADY, Mohummud Siddick
NANHUCK, Mohammad
MSM/MMM
Labor Party-PMXD
MSM/MMM
Muslim
4CHUMROO, Meckduth
GRIVON, Gérard Clifford
LESJONGARD, Georges Pierre
MSM/MMMHindu
Christian
5Navin Ramgoolam
JHURRY, Jyaneshwur
HURNAM, Devendranath
Labor Party-PMXD
MSM/MMM
MSM/MSM
Hindu
6JEEHA, Deelchand,
GUNGAH, Ashit Kumar
DULLOO, Madan Murlidhar
MSM/MMM
MSM/MMM
Labor-PMXD
Hindu
7Sir Anerood Jugnauth
HOOKOOM, Balkissoon
MEENOWA, Jai Prakash
MSM/MMM
Labor Party-PMXD
MSM/MMM
Hindu
8RAMLOLL, Parmessur
Ashok Jugnauth
NAGALINGUM, Darmarajen
MSM/MMMHindu
9BACHOO, Anil Kumar
Sangeet Fowdar
KOONJOO, Premdut
MSM/MMMHindu
10CHOONEE, Mookhesswur
GUNNESS, Govindranath
DAUREEAWOO, Rashad
MSM/MMMHindu
Hindu
Muslim
11Pravind Jugnauth
BOOLELL, Arvin
BHOWON, Rajayswur
MSM/MMM
Labor Party-PMXD
MSM/MMM
Hindu
12GAYAN, Anil Kumarsingh
ROOPUN, Dharmaveersing
COLLENDAVELLOO, Ivan Leslie
MSM/MMMHindu
Hindu
Christian
13AUMEER, Hurreeprem
ISSIMDAR, Abdool Nasser
BALOOMOODY, Vedasingam Vasudevachariar
MSM/MMMHindu
Muslims
Hindu
14Alan Ganoo
ARUNASALON, José
ROOPUN, Prithvirajsing,
MSM/MMMHindu
Christian
Hindu
15DOOKUN LUCHOOMUN, Leela Devi
OBEEGADOO, Louis Steven
SOODHUN, Showkutally
MSM/MMMHindu
Christian
Muslim
16BODHA, Nandcoomar
SAKARAM, Sewram
MICHEL, Louis Sylvio
MSM/MMMHindu
Hindu
Christian
17GUIMBEAU, Eric Joseph Raoul
PAYA, Marie José Gerard
DOWARKASING, Mokshanand
MSM/MMMChristian
Hindu
18KHUSHIRAM, Khushhal Chand,
AUROOMOOGA PUTTEN, Prithviraj,
PERRIER, Anne-Marie Danielle
MSM/MMMHindu
Christian
19Paul Berenger
CUTTAREE, Jaya Krishna
ABDOOLA, Mohamed Feroz
MSM/MMMChristian
Hindu
Muslim
20BHAGWAN, Rajesh Anand
LABELLE, Marie Noëlle Françoise
ALLET, Daniel Jean Maurice
MSM/MMMHindu
Christian

References

  1. "Early results indicate opposition landslide in Mauritius elections". CNN. 2000-09-12. Archived from the original on 2007-10-06. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  2. "Mauritius Pundits Predict Opposition Victory". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-08. Archived from the original on December 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  3. "Carnival Atmosphere As Thousands End Mauritian Polls". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-10. Archived from the original on December 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  4. "Smooth Turnover Following Mauritian Election". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-14. Archived from the original on November 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
  5. "Opposition alliance wins by landslide in Mauritius vote". CNN. 2000-09-12. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  6. "Color, contradictions mark run-up to Mauritius elections". CNN. 2000-09-10. Archived from the original on 2007-10-07. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  7. "Mauritian voters trek to polls in ideal conditions". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-11. Archived from the original on 2007-08-26. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  8. "Sadc Parliamentary Forum Applauds Mauritian Election". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-13. Archived from the original on December 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
  9. "Mauritius opposition landslide win". BBC Online. 2000-09-12. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  10. "Mauritian Election Results Disappoint Gender Activists". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-14. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
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