Prime Minister Mauritius admits electoral defeat

(ANSA) – CAPE TOWN, NOV 11 – The Prime Minister of the State of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth today admitted defeat in Sunday’s legislative elections. The final results are not yet official, but opposition leader Navin Ramgoolam leading the Alliance of Change coalition is preparing to take over as prime minister for the third time. Jugnauth said his alliance, Lepep, was “heading for a major defeat”. “The people have chosen another team to lead the country,” Jugnauth, the outgoing prime minister of the prosperous Indian Ocean island nation, told reporters. Last month, Jugnauth celebrated a historic agreement with the United Kingdom, which he called the completion of “decolonization”, regaining sovereignty over the Chagos Islands after a long dispute. But his election campaign was overshadowed by a wiretapping scandal. Both sides have promised voters measures to improve the lives of Mauritians who, despite the country’s strong economic growth, find themselves facing difficulties related to the cost of living. According to provisional estimates from the electoral commission, Sunday’s voter turnout was around 80%. The Hindu-majority nation has seen substantial stability and growth since independence, building an economy based on tourism, financial services and textile production. According to the World Bank, gross domestic product per capita exceeded $10,000 in 2022. But analysts have highlighted growing concerns about governance and corruption. (HANDLE).