Mauritius General Election - December 10, 2014

[politicus]

Ethnic share of MPs (counting the non-declareds as Hindus) with population share in brackets:

Hindu 36/52.2% (48.5%)
Muslim 13/18.8% (17.3%)
General population (non-Asians + Christian Indians = non-Chinese Christians!) 19/27.5% (31%)
Sino-Mauritian 1/1.4% (3%)

Switching one seat from Muslims to Chinese would give them 17.4% and 2.9% respectively, which would have matched their population share exactly.
Using the 8th additional seat and giving it to the GP would have given them 28.6% of 70 seats - a modest improvement.

[politicus]

Jugnauth has been designated Prime Minister, but no Cabinet appointed yet.

Lepep has chosen the medical researcher Ameenah Gurib-Fakim (52) as President, when the current Presidents term expires in June. He was a Labour guy and they shortened his term in anticipation that Rangoolam would take over after a new constitution was approved. Gurib-Fakim is Managing Director of Cephyr, a center for research in herbal medicine in Phoenix and Docteur honoris causa from L’université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie (Sorbonne). First woman President and first scientist, dunno if she is the first Muslim, but I think so. Nice choice and a clear signal from the winners that the Presidency is a non-political ceremonial post.

The future President in the field:

[politicus]

Paul Berenger has announced that MMM leaves the alliance with Labour. No surprise given the disastrous result. It opens the door to a reunification of MMM and ML, but likely not before Berenger retires.

[politicus]

Jugnauth has publicized a list of the 24 members of his government. 17 MSM, 4 PMSD and 3 ML. Only three women (on traditional "womens stuff": education, social security, gender equality and childrens development). The ministers will be presented to the President tomorrow. He has chosen to keep his broad coalition intact despite MSM having a slim majority of their own. I had expected him to ditch either conservative PMSD or leftist ML in order to secure coherence.

Jugnauth adds Ministry of the Interior and Rodrigues to the Prime Ministers offfice, so the old boy will be quite busy. His son gets the relatively junior post as minister of technology, communication and innovation, but those are important areas for the government and its also a signal that  they will be upgraded. PMSD leader Xavier Duval gets to become Deputy Premier given his four additional seats, that makes his party the second biggest. Also gets tourism, which is a major post in Mauritius. ML boss Ivan Collendavelloo gets energy and public services plus the sinecure title as Vice Premier, but his Deputy Anil Gayan, who was expected to become Foreign Minister only got Health. MSM also takes Finance with veteran Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo - a comeback after 24 years out of office!

The government

Sir Aneerood Jugnath (MSM), Premier ministre, ministre des Affaires intérieures et de Rodrigues

Xavier-Luc Duval (PMSD), Deputy Premier minister, ministre du Tourisme et de la Communication extérieure

Showkutally Soodhun (MSM), vice-Premier ministre et ministre du Logement et des Terres

Ivan Collendavelloo (ML), vice-Premier ministre et ministre de l’Energie et des Services publics

Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo (MSM), ministre des Finances

Pravind Jugnath (MSM), ministre de la Technologie, de la Communication et de l’Innovation

Yogida Sawmynaden (MSM), ministre de la Jeunesse et des Sports

Nando Bodha (MSM), ministre des Infrastructures publiques et du Transport

Leela Devi Luchoomun-Dookun (MSM), ministre de l’Education, de l’Enseignement supérieur et des Ressources humaines

Anil Kumarsingh Gayan (ML), ministre de la Santé et de la Qualité de la vie

Anwar Husnoo (MSM), ministre des Collectivités locales

Prithvirajsingh "Pradeep" Roopun (MSM), ministre de l’Intégration sociale

Marie Josepg Noel Etienne Sinantamboo (MSM), ministre des Affaires étrangères, de l’Intégration régionale et du commerce extérieur

Ravi Yerrigadoo (ML), Attorney General

Mahen Kumar Seeruttun (MSM), ministre de l’Agro-industrie

"Dan" Santaram Baboo (PMSD), ministre des Arts et de la Culture

Ashiit Gungah (MSM), ministre de l’Industrie et du Commerce

Aurore Perraud (PMSD), ministre de l’Egalite des genres et du Développement de l’enfant

Roshi Badhain (MSM), ministre des Services financiers et de la Bonne gouvernance

Soomilduth "Sunil" Bholah (MSM), ministre du Commerce, de l’Entreprise et des Coopératives

Fazila Daureeawoo (MSM), ministre de la Sécurité sociale

Premdut Koonjoo (MSM), ministre de l’Océanique, des Ressources marines, de la Pêche et des îles éparses

Raj Dayal (MSM), ministre de l’Environnement, de l’Emergency Centre et de la Beach Authority

Alain Wong (PMSD), ministre de la Fonction publique

Soodesh Satkam Callichurn (MSM), ministre du Travail, des Relations industrielles, de l’Emploi et de la Formation