- Mauritian general election, 2000
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The OppositionElectionsPolitical Parties
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.
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]
Contents
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 the 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 Anerood Jugnauth would become Prime Minister. They agreed that after 3 years he would step down as Prime Minister to become the President of Mauritius with enhanced powers and 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 have been 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
Altogther 43 parties put forward 535 candidates but the main contest was always between the two main coalitions. Both alliances campaigned on similar platforms with the economy being the main 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 main 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 - Mauritian Militant Movement (Mouvement Militant Mauricien)
- Militant Socialist Movement (Mouvement Socialiste Mauricien)
51.7 54 4 58 Alliance MLP-PMXD - Mauritian Labour Party (Parti Travailliste)
- Mauritian Party of Xavier-Luc Duval (Parti Mauricien Xavier-Luc Duval)
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
Constituency Elected MPs Party Alliance Religion 1 BARBIER, Jean Claude
NAVARRE-MARIE, Marie Arianne
ARMANCE, Jean- Claude Louis DesiréMSM/MMM Christians 2 LEUNG SHING, Emmanuel Jean
BEEBEEJAUN, Ahmed Rashid
MAUDARBOCUS, SahidMSM/MMM
Labour Party-PMXD
MSM/MMMChinese
Muslim
Muslim3 LAUTHAN, Samioullah
CHADY, Mohummud Siddick
NANHUCK, MohammadMSM/MMM
Labor Party-PMXD
MSM/MMMMuslim 4 CHUMROO, Meckduth
GRIVON, Gérard Clifford
LESJONGARD, Georges PierreMSM/MMM Hindu
Christian5 Navin Ramgoolam
JHURRY, Jyaneshwur
HURNAM, DevendranathLabor Party-PMXD
MSM/MMM
MSM/MSMHindu 6 JEEHA, Deelchand,
GUNGAH, Ashit Kumar
DULLOO, Madan MurlidharMSM/MMM
MSM/MMM
Labor-PMXDHindu 7 Sir Anerood Jugnauth
HOOKOOM, Balkissoon
MEENOWA, Jai PrakashMSM/MMM
Labor Party-PMXD
MSM/MMMHindu 8 RAMLOLL, Parmessur
Ashok Jugnauth
NAGALINGUM, DarmarajenMSM/MMM Hindu 9 BACHOO, Anil Kumar
FOWDAR, Sangeet
KOONJOO, PremdutMSM/MMM Hindu 10 CHOONEE, Mookhesswur
GUNNESS, Govindranath
DAUREEAWOO, RashadMSM/MMM Hindu
Hindu
Muslim11 Pravind Jugnauth
BOOLELL, Arvin
BHOWON, RajayswurMSM/MMM
Labor Party-PMXD
MSM/MMMHindu 12 GAYAN, Anil Kumarsingh
ROOPUN, Dharmaveersing
COLLENDAVELLOO, Ivan LeslieMSM/MMM Hindu
Hindu
Christian13 AUMEER, Hurreeprem
ISSIMDAR, Abdool Nasser
BALOOMOODY, Vedasingam VasudevachariarMSM/MMM Hindu
Muslims
Hindu14 GANOO, Alan
ARUNASALON, José
ROOPUN, Prithvirajsing,MSM/MMM Hindu
Christian
Hindu15 DOOKUN LUCHOOMUN, Leela Devi
OBEEGADOO, Louis Steven
SOODHUN, ShowkutallyMSM/MMM Hindu
Christian
Muslim16 BODHA, Nandcoomar
SAKARAM, Sewram
MICHEL, Louis SylvioMSM/MMM Hindu
Hindu
Christian17 GUIMBEAU, Eric Joseph Raoul
PAYA, Marie José Gerard
DOWARKASING, MokshanandMSM/MMM Christian
Hindu18 KHUSHIRAM, Khushhal Chand,
AUROOMOOGA PUTTEN, Prithviraj,
PERRIER, Anne-Marie DanielleMSM/MMM Hindu
Christian19 Paul Berenger
CUTTAREE, Jaya Krishna
ABDOOLA, Mohamed FerozMSM/MMM Christian
Hindu
Muslim20 BHAGWAN, Rajesh Anand
LABELLE, Marie Noëlle Françoise
ALLET, Daniel Jean MauriceMSM/MMM Hindu
ChristianReferences
- ^ a b "Early results indicate opposition landslide in Mauritius elections". CNN. 2000-09-12. Archived from the original on 2007-10-06. http://web.archive.org/web/20071006014337/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/africa/09/12/mauritius.election.ap/. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
- ^ a b c "Mauritius Pundits Predict Opposition Victory". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-08. http://www.sardc.net/sd/elections2000/mauritius/mau_opvictory.html. Retrieved 2007-12-31.[dead link]
- ^ "Carnival Atmosphere As Thousands End Mauritian Polls". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-10. http://www.sardc.net/sd/elections2000/mauritius/mau_carnival.html. Retrieved 2007-12-26.[dead link]
- ^ "Smooth Turnover Following Mauritian Election". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-14. http://www.sardc.net/sd/elections2000/mauritius/mau_turnover.html. Retrieved 2007-12-31.[dead link]
- ^ "Opposition alliance wins by landslide in Mauritius vote". CNN. 2000-09-12. http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/africa/09/12/mauritius.elections.ap/index.html. Retrieved 2007-12-25.[dead link]
- ^ "Color, contradictions mark run-up to Mauritius elections". CNN. 2000-09-10. Archived from the original on 2007-10-07. http://web.archive.org/web/20071007122356/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/africa/09/10/mauritius.rainbowelec.ap/. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
- ^ "Mauritian voters trek to polls in ideal conditions". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-11. Archived from the original on 2007-08-26. http://web.archive.org/web/20070826071502/http://www.sardc.net/sd/elections2000/mauritius/mau_ideal.html. Retrieved 2007-12-26.
- ^ "Sadc Parliamentary Forum Applauds Mauritian Election". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-13. http://www.sardc.net/sd/elections2000/mauritius/mau_applauds.html. Retrieved 2007-12-26.[dead link]
- ^ "Mauritius opposition landslide win". BBC Online. 2000-09-12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/920307.stm. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
- ^ "Mauritian Election Results Disappoint Gender Activists". Sustainable democracy. 2000-09-14. http://www.sardc.net/sd/elections2000/mauritius/mau_gender.html. Retrieved 2007-12-31.[dead link]
External links
Elections in Mauritius
General elections Categories:- Elections in Mauritius
- 2000 in Mauritius
- 2000 elections in Africa
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