VETERAN Mauritian politician Navin Ramgoolam was sworn in as Prime Minister for his fourth term on Wednesday, following a dramatic landslide victory in the country’s general election. His Alliance du Changement (ADC) coalition secured a stunning 60 out of 62 national assembly seats, winning 62.6 percent of the vote in Sunday’s election.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the State House in the capital, Port Louis, with President Prithvirajsing Roopun officiating. Ramgoolam, 77, was joined by key political figures, diplomats, and senior civil servants at the brief ceremony.
A seasoned leader, Ramgoolam previously served as Prime Minister between 1995-2000 and again from 2005-2014. Following his return to power, he told reporters that the election result represented the people’s frustration and anger. ‘The country has voted with rage,’ he remarked, vowing to lift the nation from its current difficulties. ‘There is a communion between us and the people. We will work to lift the country from the hell,’ he added.
Ramgoolam’s coalition victory has ended a period of political uncertainty, with outgoing Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth’s administration beset by rising living costs and corruption allegations. Ramgoolam, who led the country through a significant period of economic growth during his previous terms, has promised bold reforms.
His leadership is expected to focus on addressing the cost of living crisis and tackling corruption, which remains a major issue. In his 2006 tenure, Ramgoolam introduced policies aimed at reducing bureaucracy and simplifying the tax system to diversify Mauritius’s economy. Under his leadership, the island nation, with a population of around 1.3 million, grew as an offshore financial hub and was recognised by the World Bank as one of the easiest countries in Africa to do business.
Despite his economic successes, the outgoing government, led by Jugnauth since 2017, failed to gain the electorate’s trust in the face of rising prices and ongoing corruption investigations. Jugnauth’s negotiations regarding the ceding of the Chagos Islands to the UK in exchange for the retention of the US military base on Diego Garcia also generated controversy.
As Ramgoolam embarks on his fourth term, all eyes are on how he will address the country’s challenges and whether his promises of reform can match the scale of the nation’s expectations. With the ADC’s overwhelming victory, Mauritius stands at a crossroads, with Ramgoolam’s leadership poised to shape the future of this small but strategically important island nation.
