2005 Mauritian general election explained

Country:Mauritius
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:2000 Mauritian general election
Previous Year:2000
Next Election:2010 Mauritian general election
Next Year:2010
Majority Seats:35
Image1:The Leader of Opposition, Mauritius, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam (cropped).jpg
Leader1:Navin Ramgoolam
Party1:Labour Party (Mauritius)
Seats1:38
Popular Vote1:948,756
Percentage1:48.38%
Leader2:Paul Berenger
Party2:Mauritian Militant Movement
Seats2:22
Popular Vote2:831,738
Percentage2:42.41%
Prime Minister
Posttitle:Subsequent Prime Minister
Before Election:Paul Berenger
Before Party:Mauritian Militant Movement
After Election:Navin Ramgoolam
After Party:Labour Party (Mauritius)

General elections were held in Mauritius on 3 July 2005, with votes counted on 4 July.

The Alliance Sociale, a coalition led by the Mauritian Labour Party (PTr) and including the Mauritian Party of Xavier-Luc Duval (PMXD), the Mauritian Social Democrat Party (MSN), Les Verts (Greens), the Republican Movement, and the Mauritian Militant Socialist Movement (MMSM), won the election with 42 of the 70 seats (38 elected directly, and another 4 nominated under the country's "best loser" system). The PTr leader, Navin Ramgoolam, was subsequently appointed Prime Minister on 5 July, with Rashid Beebeejaun as his deputy. Three other coalition leaders were elected, but the Les Verts leader failed to oust outgoing Prime Minister Paul Bérenger from his constituency.

24 seats were won by Bérenger's coalition, consisting of the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) and the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM); of these, 22 were directly elected and 2 nominated as "best losers". Pravind Jugnauth, the MSM leader, lost his seat to an Alliance Sociale candidate.

The two seats reserved for the island of Rodrigues were won by the Rodrigues Movement (OPR); another 2 OPR members were appointed as "best losers."

Eight of the 70 seats are allocated to "best losers," appointed to ensure that ethnic and religious minorities are equitably represented.

Results

The total number of votes is higher than the population because Mauritians get to vote for up to 3 times in a single election.[1]

Notes and References

  1. http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/m/mauritius/mauritius2005.txt Adam Carr