Mauritius holds election with cost of living on everyone’s mind By Reuters
by Villen Anganan
PORT LOUIS (Reuters) – Mauritius will hold parliamentary elections on Sunday where incumbent Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and his main rivals have all pledged to tackle the Indian Ocean island’s rising cost of living.
The country of about 1.3 million people markets itself as a link between Africa and Asia, deriving much of its income from a thriving offshore finance, tourism and textile sector.
It has predicted economic growth of 6.5% this year compared to 7.0% last year but many voters are not feeling the benefits.
Jugnauth’s Alliance Lepep coalition has promised to raise minimum wages, increase pensions and reduce value added tax on some basic goods.
It says it will use payments from the UK under an October deal for Britain to give up the Chagos Islands while keeping the US-UK Diego Garcia air base.
Mauritius also receives aid from China.
“The coalition led by the prime minister is selling the card of economic success, and has promised a lot of money to different groups of people,” said political analyst Subash Gobine.
The opposition party also pledged to increase pensions as well as introduce free transport and internet services and lower fuel prices.
It is heavily populated by the Alliance du Changement coalition led by Navin Ramgoolam and two other parties that joined the Linion Reform alliance whose leaders, Nando Bodha and Roshi Bhadain, have planned to take turns as prime minister if they succeed.
“It is the youth that will make a difference in this election,” said voter David Stafford, 36, in the capital Port Louis, explaining that people want economic development and job opportunities such as financial reforms.
A little over a million people are expected to elect legislators for the 62 parliamentary islands in the next five years from a list of 68 parties and five political alliances.
Last week, Jugnauth’s government shut down social media until the day after the election, when the results are expected, citing national security concerns after leaked communications between public figures. It lifted the ban a day after opposition groups criticized the move.
Voting begins at 0300 GMT on Sunday and closes at 1400 GMT. Any party or coalition that gets more than half of the seats in parliament also wins the position of prime minister.
