Democratic Dynamics: Mauritius' 2024 Presidential Elections Explained

Overview

Mauritius is set for its presidential elections on November 30, 2024. This event is significant in the country’s democratic process, showcasing its well-established parliamentary system and vibrant political landscape.

Mauritius is the only African country classified as a "full democracy" by the EIU Democracy Index, ranking 21st globally in its 2022 version. This recognition underscores the country's commitment to maintaining a robust and inclusive democratic framework.

Political Structure

Mauritius follows a parliamentary democracy, with elections held every five years. The president, largely a ceremonial figure, is elected by the National Assembly, which comprises 70 members. The real executive power resides with the Prime Minister.

Electoral Process

The electoral process in Mauritius is designed to be inclusive and representative. The National Assembly consists of 70 members, with 62 directly elected from constituencies. The country is divided into 21 constituencies, with 20 on the main island and one covering Rodrigues Island. Each constituency elects three members, except Rodrigues, which elects two.

Voting System

Voters in Mauritius can vote for up to three (or two) candidates in their district using a plurality block voting system. This system allows voters to select multiple candidates, enhancing representative inclusivity. However, there is malapportionment as the number of voters per district varies widely.

Multi-Party System and Best Loser System

Mauritius employs a multi-party system, encouraging a diverse political landscape. Multiple parties contest elections, forming coalitions and blocs to maximize their electoral strength. The "best loser" system ensures broader representation by allocating additional seats to the highest-polling losing candidates, based on ethnic and religious considerations. This system helps maintain a balanced representation of the various communities within the National Assembly.

Best Loser System

A distinctive feature of the Mauritian electoral system is the Best Loser System. This mechanism ensures that the representation of different ethnic groups in the National Assembly is balanced, promoting social harmony and inclusiveness. 

The system is unique to the country though there are countries within 

Under this system, an additional eight members are appointed from among the best-performing losing candidates, ensuring that the final composition of the Assembly reflects the country's diverse population.

The ethnic representation in Mauritius is shown below. 

The system can be best summarized in the following way: 

1. The Best Loser System ensures fair ethnic representation in the National Assembly by correcting imbalances from direct elections.

2. The system takes into account four ethnic groups: Hindus, the General Population, Muslims, and Sino-Mauritian, based on the 1972 census. 

3. Eight additional seats are given; the first four to the top unelected candidates from under-represented ethnic groups, and the next four balancing ethnic and party representation.

4. Candidates are chosen based on the highest number of votes received in their constituencies. Seats may remain unfilled if no suitable candidate is available.

5. The system has evolved, such as in 2014 when candidates were not required to declare their ethnicity. This created challenges in maintaining ethnic balance, highlighting the system's complexity and the need for continuous adaptation to changing political and demographic landscapes.

Analysis of the Best Losers

Ethnicity Trends

The chart below shows the composition of Best Losers over the previous elections. 

The trend suggests that: 

1. General Population and Muslims have had relatively stable representation among the Best Losers, suggesting that political parties should focus on including candidates from these ethnicities.

2. The absence of Hindu best losers since 2000 suggests that Hindu candidates have been relatively successful in getting elected directly into the initial 62-member list.

3. Increased representation of Sino-Mauritians since 2010 suggests the need to strategically include more candidates from the ethnicity in the candidate pool.

Political Overview of Mauritius

Mauritius has been a vibrant democracy since its independence in 1968. Parties and leaders from the freedom movement went on to hold significant positions in the country's political landscape.

Over the span of twelve national elections, political power in Mauritius has primarily been a tug-of-war among three major parties. The MSM has claimed victory in six of these contests (1983, 1987, 1991, 2000, 2014, and 2019), while the Labour Party has emerged triumphant in four (1967, 1995, 2005, and 2010). The MMM, though less frequently victorious, made significant marks with wins in 1976 and 1982. Dominating the political landscape, the premiership has largely oscillated between the Ramgoolam and Jugnauth dynasties, with a brief interlude from 2003 to 2005 when Paul Berenger ascended to prime minister through an alliance with the Jugnauths.

The 2024 elections are crucial as they will determine the composition of the National Assembly and the leadership for the next term. The ruling Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) seeks to retain its majority under Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth​. 

Key Issues for the 2024 Elections

We analysed the 2024 BTI Country Report for Mauritius. The following issues are likely to play a significant role in the coming elections:

Governance and Institutional Independence

1. Politicization of Institutions: Key institutions like parliament, anti corruption bodies, and financial regulators are increasingly politicized, undermining their independence and effectiveness​.
2. Rising Corruption: Mauritius fell to the 57th position in the Corruption Perception Index 2022, with increased corruption exacerbated by emergency procurement processes during COVID-19​.
3. Weakening Democratic Institutions: The independence of democratic institutions is compromised, with the speaker of the National Assembly showing partiality, hindering opposition oversight​.

Economic Management and Policy

1. Monetary and Fiscal Policy Issues: The effectiveness of monetary policy is questioned due to close ties between the Bank of Mauritius and the Ministry of Finance, blurring lines between monetary and fiscal policy​.
2. Economic Diversification: Economic diversification remains critical, highlighted by Mauritius' credit rating downgrade in 2022 due to concerns about institutional quality and policymaking​.

Social Issues and Civil Rights

1. Civil Liberties: Incidents of police brutality and concerns about civil liberty protections highlight the need for effective mechanisms to safeguard civil rights​.
2. Gender Inequality: Despite progress, gender inequality persists with women underrepresented in decision-making roles and high levels of gender-based violence​.

Environmental and Climate Policy

1. Climate Change Vulnerability: Mauritius is highly vulnerable to climate change, with a gap between climate policies and their actual implementation​.
2. Sustainability Initiatives: Achieving climate goals requires significant external funding, highlighting the need for better planning and execution of climate projects​.

The 2024 presidential elections in Mauritius represent a pivotal moment in the country's democratic journey, reaffirming its commitment to a robust and inclusive political framework. With its unique electoral systems, such as the Best Loser System, and a vibrant multi-party landscape, Mauritius continues to be a beacon of democracy in Africa. As the nation prepares for the elections, key issues ranging from governance and economic management to social and environmental challenges will shape the political discourse. The outcome of these elections will not only influence the immediate political landscape but also set the course for Mauritius's future, ensuring that it remains a strong and democratic nation committed to the principles of inclusivity and representation.

We will be uploading more content on Mauritius as the elections draw closer, providing in-depth analysis and updates on this significant event.