Mauritian general election, 2000

Mauritius

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Mauritius

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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]

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

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

• Source: Elected members of the National Assembly election held on 11 September 2000

References

1. ^ ^{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. 
2. ^ ^{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]}
3. ^ "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]}
4. ^ "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]}
5. ^ "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]}
6. ^ "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. 
7. ^ "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. 
8. ^ "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]}
9. ^ "Mauritius opposition landslide win". BBC Online. 2000-09-12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/920307.stm. Retrieved 2007-12-25. 
10. ^ "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

• Full results of the election