International Courant
About 1,000,000 individuals are anticipated to elect 62 members to parliament, whereas residing requirements disaster will prime voters’ agenda.
Folks in Mauritius forged their votes in parliamentary elections, which have been overshadowed by a wiretapping scandal.
Polling stations opened at 7am (03am GMT) on Sunday and closed at 6pm (2pm GMT) within the twelfth election since independence from the UK in 1968. Outcomes are anticipated on Monday.
There are about 1,000,000 registered voters who will elect 62 members to the Nationwide Meeting, with the price of residing disaster topping electoral points within the Indian Ocean archipelago.
Whichever occasion or coalition wins greater than half the seats in parliament additionally wins the publish of prime minister.
Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth’s Militant Socialist Motion occasion and opposition events have vowed to deal with the problem in certainly one of Africa’s most affluent nations.
Jugnauth is looking for elections a month after a historic deal by which Britain ceded sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after a long-running dispute.
A banner in help of the Alliance du Changement occasion is seen throughout a marketing campaign rally led by former Prime Minister and candidate Navin Ramgoolam in Port Louis on November 3, 2024, forward of the overall election. (Laura Morosoli/AFP)
However the leak of secretly recorded phone conversations of politicians, diplomats and journalists has dealt a blow to Jugnauth’s occasion.
In response to the scandal, authorities introduced on November 1 a ban on social media till after the elections.
However an uproar from the opposition and native media led to a painful reversal inside 24 hours.
Tense campaigning has taken place and police have been deployed at polling stations to make sure safety, Election Commissioner Irfan Rahman mentioned, after media stories mentioned issues about election fraud surfaced.
The African Union has despatched a 30-member observer mission to the nation touted as certainly one of Africa’s most steady democracies.
Value of residing
The nation with roughly 1.3 million inhabitants profiles itself as a hyperlink between Africa and Asia, and derives most of its revenue from a thriving offshore monetary sector, tourism and textiles.
The nation expects financial progress of 6.5 p.c this 12 months, in comparison with 7 p.c final 12 months, however many citizens are usually not feeling the advantages.
Jugnauth’s Alliance Lepep coalition has pledged to lift minimal wages, improve pensions and lower value-added taxes on sure primary items.
It says it should use funds from Britain beneath an October deal for Britain to cede the Chagos Islands whereas retaining the U.S.-British Diego Garcia air base.
“The alliance led by the Prime Minister is promoting the financial prosperity card, with guarantees of extra money to totally different segments of the inhabitants,” mentioned political analyst Subash Gobine.
The opposition, dominated by the Alliance of Change coalition led by Navin Ramgoolam, has additionally promised to extend pensions, introduce free transport and web companies and lower gasoline costs.
Mauritius to carry parliamentary elections specializing in value of residing disaster | Information
Africa Area Information ,Subsequent Massive Factor in Public Knowledg
