Mauritius opposition fares better but Ramgoolam faces big loss!

The opposition parties have done fairly better in the 2019 elections, given the shortcomings and accusations of manipulations.

While the opposition parties are not accusing the government of election rigging, the PTR did better than the MMM. The MMM won 9 seats in 2014 and only 8 in 2019.

While the MMM will still lick some wounds for some time, losing one seat compared to 2014, the PTR gained 9 seats based on partial results.

This shows the opposition in Mauritius is now a stronger force with a combined 21 seats. With the Best Loser system, they may get another 3 or 4 seats, bringing their total to 25 or 26.

BIG LOSS FOR PTR

It is also another big loss for the PTR with the defeat of Navin Ramgoolam. He has been party leader for too long, perhaps and his scandals are not going away.

It will take a miracle for Mr Ramgoolam to win back his seat in any constituency in Mauritius. The defeats in 2014 and 2019 have perhaps sealed his political destiny.

But the PTR is in limbo, not knowing how to choose a new leader. This will haunt the party for a long time until they decide to get rid of Navin or cut his influence in the party!

MSM-ML SHRUNK

The MSM-ML-PMSD alliance in 2014 snatched a whopping 47 elected MPs but this time around without the PMSD their numbers shrunk.

The MSM-ML-Ex-MMM team won 38 seats. While the MSM won most seats, the ML is reduced to a smaller size.

But the majority is sufficient for the MSM-ML-MMM transfuges to reign supreme for another five years, though hiccups cannot be discarded.

The MSM has always produced surprises during their reign in power and we expect some surprises along the way to 2024.

VIVE LES TRANSFUGES!

Another aspect of the 2014 and 2019 elections is the element of ‘transfugisme’ or MPs and party members who cross-over to adversaries.

The MMM remains the party that suffered the most in this case, with several elements leaving the party since its fatal alliance with the PTR.

It has a long history of transfuges, from 1976 onwards to the massive breakup of the party in 1983. It got back on its heels from there.

Winning some elections, losing some, but this time around it needs a revamp to keep up with the slippery political machinations in Mauritius.

The MSM is a party full of transfuges, formed by transfuges and its mentor and founder Sir Aneerood Jugnauth is the father of all transfuges having been with other parties before he joined the MMM.