View source for Politics of Mauritius

{{Short description|none}}
<!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox political system
| name                          = Politics of Mauritius
| native_name                   = Politique à Maurice
| image                         = Coat of arms of Mauritius.svg
| image_size                    = 100
| caption                       = [[Coat of arms of Mauritius]]
| type                          = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[republic]]
| constitution                  = [[Constitution of Mauritius]]
| legislature                   = [[National Assembly (Mauritius)|National Assembly]]
| legislature_type              = [[Unicameralism|Unicameral]]
| legislature_place             = [[Port Louis]]
| legislature_speaker           = [[Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra]]
| legislature_speaker_title     = [[List of speakers of the National Assembly of Mauritius|Speaker]]
| title_hos                     = [[President of Mauritius|President]]
| current_hos                   = [[Dharam Gokhool]]
| appointer_hos                 = National Assembly
| title_hog                     = [[Prime Minister of Mauritius|Prime Minister]]
| current_hog                   = [[Navin Ramgoolam]]
| appointer_hog                 = President
| cabinet                       = [[Cabinet of Mauritius]]
| current_cabinet               = 
| cabinet_leader                = Prime Minister
| cabinet_deputyleader          =
| cabinet_appointer             = 
| cabinet_hq                    = 
| cabinet_ministries            = [[Government of Mauritius|list]]
| judiciary                     = [[Judiciary of Mauritius]]
| judiciary_head                = 
| courts                        =
| court                         = [[Supreme Court of Mauritius|Supreme Court]]
| chief_judge                   = 
| court_seat                    = 
| court1                        =
| chief_judge1                  =
| court_seat1                   =
}}
{{Politics of Mauritius}}

'''Politics of Mauritius''' ({{langx|fr|Politique à Maurice}}) takes place in a framework of a [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[representative democracy|democracy]]. The separation of powers is among the three branches of the [[Government of Mauritius]], namely the [[Legislative power|legislative]], the [[Executive power|executive]] and the [[Judiciary of Mauritius|Judiciary]], is embedded in the [[Constitution of Mauritius]]. Being a [[Westminster system]] of government, Mauritius's [[unicameral]] house of parliament officially, the [[National Assembly of Mauritius|National Assembly]], is supreme. It elects the President and the Prime Minister. While the President is voted by a single majority of votes in the house, the Prime Minister is the MP who supports a majority in the house. The [[President of Mauritius|President]] is the [[Head of State]] while the [[Prime Minister of Mauritius|prime minister]] has full [[executive power]] and is the [[Head of Government]] who is assisted by a [[Cabinet of Ministers of Mauritius|council of Ministers]]. Mauritius has a [[multi-party system]].<ref name="FAQ">{{cite news|url=http://www.gov.mu/portal/site/citizenhomepage/menuitem.3585e7c5797e1a22b612e3a3a0508a0c/|title=FAQs – What is the political system in Mauritius ?|publisher=Government of Mauritius|access-date=5 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102042531/http://www.gov.mu/portal/site/citizenhomepage/menuitem.3585e7c5797e1a22b612e3a3a0508a0c/|archive-date=2 January 2013}}</ref> 

{{Democracy Index rating|Mauritius|full democracy|2022}} Mauritius stands out as one of few African states to enjoy continuous spells of democracy since independence.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Miles |first=William F. S |date=1999 |title=The Mauritius Enigma |url=https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.1999.0036 |journal=Journal of Democracy |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=91–104 |doi=10.1353/jod.1999.0036 |issn=1086-3214|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Historically, Mauritius's government has been led by the [[Labour Party (Mauritius)|Labour Party]] or the [[Militant Socialist Movement|MSM]] for the exception of short periods from 1982 to 1983 and 2003–2005 where the [[Mauritian Militant Movement|MMM]] was at the head of the country. L'Alliance Lepep, a coalition of several political parties including MSM, Muvman Liberater and PMSD, won the 2014 elections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://electoral.govmu.org/English/electionresult/nasselec/Pages/Detailed-Results-by-Constituency-2014.aspx|title=Electoral Commissioner's Office – Detailed Results by Constituency|website=electoral.govmu.org|language=en|access-date=2017-02-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228163338/http://electoral.govmu.org/English/electionresult/nasselec/Pages/Detailed-Results-by-Constituency-2014.aspx|archive-date=28 February 2017}}</ref> Two years into the political term, the PMSD announced their resignation from the coalition government on 19 December 2016, and joined the ranks of the opposition.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://defimedia.info/opposing-proposing|title=From opposing to proposing|date=2016-12-23|work=Defimedia|access-date=2017-02-27|language=fr|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228090549/http://defimedia.info/opposing-proposing|archive-date=28 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inside.news/2016/12/19/le-pmsd-quitte-lalliance-lepep/|title=Le PMSD quitte l'alliance Lepep !|last=Deborah|date=2016-12-19|website=News you can trust|access-date=2017-02-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228091533/https://inside.news/2016/12/19/le-pmsd-quitte-lalliance-lepep/|archive-date=28 February 2017}}</ref> On 23 January 2017, the then prime minister, 86-year-old Sir Aneerood Jugnauth,<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://mauritiusassembly.govmu.org/English/hmembers/Pages/Jugnauth-Anerood.aspx|title=National Assembly – Jugnauth Anerood|website=mauritiusassembly.govmu.org|language=en|access-date=2017-02-27|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170228164940/http://mauritiusassembly.govmu.org/English/hmembers/Pages/Jugnauth-Anerood.aspx|archive-date=28 February 2017}}</ref> a key political figure in Mauritian politics who has previously served several political terms spanning over many decades, announced that he was stepping down as prime minister.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38709203|title=Mauritius: PM Anerood Jugnauth to hand over to son|date=2017-01-22|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-02-27|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202121251/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38709203|archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref> Following the Westminster tradition, the leader of the governing party (MSM party) in the coalition government, Pravind Jugnauth who is Sir Aneerood Jugnauth's son and then Minister of Finance, was sworn in as prime minister.<ref name="auto1"/> Although Sir Aneerood Jugnauth resigned as prime minister, he is still serving as Minister Mentor, Minister of Defence, Minister for Rodrigues.<ref name="auto"/> Mauritius' ruling Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) won more than half of the seats in [[2019 Mauritian general election|2019 parliamentary election]], securing incumbent prime minister [[Pravind Jugnauth|Pravind Kumar Jugnauth]] a new five-year term.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mauritius-election-idUSKBN1XI177| title = Mauritius elects incumbent PM for five-year term| website = [[Reuters]]| date = 8 November 2019}}</ref> On 10 November 2024, the opposition coalition, [[Alliance du Changement]], won 60 of the 64 seats in the Mauritian [[2024 Mauritian general election|general election]]. Its leader, former prime minister [[Navin Ramgoolam]], became new prime minister.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mauritius election: Government suffers electoral wipeout |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y3pg0ey99o |work=www.bbc.com}}</ref>

==Legislative branch==
The president and vice president are elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms. They form part along with the Speaker of the National Assembly, the legislative offices which under the constitution have the final decision and last word on any legislative matter including the laws of Mauritius. Most of the work is executed by the Executive Branch which consists of the [[Cabinet of Mauritius|Cabinet of Ministers]], [[Leader of the Opposition (Mauritius)|Leader of the Opposition]] and also other members of the parliament.

==Executive branch==
Another important structure of the government of Mauritius is the executive branch. The Prime Minister is appointed by the president and is responsible to the National Assembly. The [[Cabinet of Ministers of Mauritius|Council of Ministers]] is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister. The Council of Ministers (cabinet), responsible for the direction and control of the government, consists of the prime minister (head of government), the leader of the majority party in the legislature, and about 24 ministers including one deputy prime minister and/or one vice prime minister.

The Executive branch being with the Cabinet have four most powerful executive offices: prime minister, deputy prime minister and two offices of vice prime minister. They have the executive power and authority over the cabinet and also help the prime minister in his tasks and responsibilities.

{{office-table}}
|[[President of Mauritius|President]]
|[[Dharam Gokhool]]
|[[Labour Party (Mauritius)|Labour Party]]
|6 December 2024
|-
|[[Prime Minister of Mauritius|Prime Minister]]
|[[Navin Ramgoolam]]
|[[Labour Party (Mauritius)|Labour Party]]
|13 November 2024
|}

==Power sharing==
In Mauritius, the prime minister enjoys significant power whereas the president has a mostly ceremonial role. The president as head of state resides in a historical Chateau laid on 220 hectares of land and the prime minister resides in the much smaller Clarisse House. Nevertheless, the prime minister is the chief executive. He is responsible for any bill sent to the president from the assembly. He presides over all cabinet ministers and is the first adviser of the president. He is the head of government and it is on his advice that the president shall appoint any person in the government.

==Order of precedence==

This is a list of ceremonial precedence for the Mauritian government:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://foreign.govmu.org/English/Documents/List%20of%20Precedence118.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-02-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211032755/http://foreign.govmu.org/English/Documents/List%20of%20Precedence118.pdf |archive-date=11 February 2015 }}</ref>
# The President
# The Prime Minister
# The Vice President
# The Deputy Prime Minister
# The Chief Justice
# The Speaker of the National Assembly
# The Former Presidents
# The Former Prime Ministers
# The Vice Prime Ministers
# The Ministers
# The Leader of the Opposition
# The Former Vice Presidents
# The Government Chief Whip
# The [[Chief Commissioner of Rodrigues]]
# The Parliamentary Private Secretaries
# The Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service
# Financial Secretary/Secretary for Home Affairs/Secretary for Foreign Affairs/Chief of Staff, PMO
# Dean of the Diplomatic Corps/Heads and Acting Heads of Diplomatic Missions/Representatives of International and Regional Organisations
# The Senior Puisne Judge
# The Solicitor General/Puisne Judges/Senior Chief Executives
# The Chief of Protocol
# The [[Commissioner of Police (Mauritius)|Commissioner of Police]]
# The Permanent Secretaries/Ambassadors/Secretary to President
# The Deputy Speaker/Members of the National Assembly
# The Heads of Religious Bodies
# Holders of [[Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean|GOSK]] and/or persons knighted
# [[List of mayors of Port Louis|Lord Mayor of Port-Louis]]/Mayors/Chairpersons of District Councils
# Consul General/Consuls/Honorary Consuls General/Honorary Consuls

==Judicial branch==
Mauritian law is an amalgam of [[French law|French]] and [[United Kingdom law|British legal]] traditions. The [[Supreme court|Supreme Court]]—a [[chief justice]] and five other judges—is the highest local judicial authority. There is an additional higher right of [[appeal]] to the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council#Overseas jurisdiction|Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]].<ref>Parvèz A. C. Dookhy, "[http://www.memoireonline.com/09/09/2702/m_Le-Comite-Judiciaire-du-Conseil-Prive-de-la-Reine-Elisabeth-II-dAngleterre-et-le-Droit-Mauricien.html Le Comité Judiciaire du Conseil Privé de la Reine Elisabeth II d'Angleterre et le Droit Mauricien] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714072156/http://www.memoireonline.com/09/09/2702/m_Le-Comite-Judiciaire-du-Conseil-Prive-de-la-Reine-Elisabeth-II-dAngleterre-et-le-Droit-Mauricien.html |date=14 July 2011 }}", [[PhD]] [[dissertation]], [[University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne]], 26 February 1997</ref> [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council#Members|Members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]] have been located in Mauritius since the end of 2008, as part of a plan to lower the costs of appeal.

The present Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is, '''Rehana Mungly-Gulbul''' who succeeded '''Ashraf Caunhye''' in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=2021-11-17 |title=Rehana Mungly-Gulbul, First Female Chief Justice Of Mauritius |url=https://english.lematinal.media/rehana-mungly-gulbul-first-female-chief-justice-of-mauritius/ |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=Le Matinal |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Political controversies===

====2024 censorship of social media platforms====
On 31 October 2024, ahead of the general elections taking place on 10 November, the ICT Authority ordered telecommunication operators to block all social media platforms. This came in response to "concerns regarding illegal postings that may impact national security and public safety".<ref name="ICTA order to block social media">{{Cite web|date=1 November 2024|title=Government Censorship Until Elections|url=https://lexpress.mu/s/censure-gouvernementale-jusquau-d%C3%A9pouillement--539680|publisher=[[L'Express.mu]]}}</ref> Many Mauritians associated the "illegal postings" with the Missie Moustass audio leaks.<ref name="Missie Moustass audio leaks">{{Cite web|date=20 October 2024|title=Missie Moustass audio leaks|url=https://lexpress.mu/s/revelations-de-missie-moustass-ebouriffant-scandale-539376|publisher=[[L'Express.mu]]}}</ref>

====2024 Missie Moustass audio leaks====
{{Main article|Mauritius Social Media Ban 2024}}
In October 2024, weeks ahead of the general elections, an anonymous Facebook account by the name of Missie Moustass (Mauritian Creole for "Mr Mustache") released audio recordings allegedly made by the sitting government on political adversaries, journalists, diplomats, and lawyers. These recordings consisted of phone calls made over WhatsApp, as well as traditional mobile. Shortly after this series of leaks, the Facebook account was taken down.<ref>{{cite web |last=Moonesamy |first=S. |date=22 November 2024 |title=Mauritius Social Media Ban |url=https://www.elandsys.com/~sm/mauritius-social-media-ban.html |access-date=30 December 2024}}</ref> However, an account of the same name was then created on TikTok where the previous audio leaks were reposted, as well as new ones. Some of the people whose phone calls were recorded and subsequently released confirmed their validity, and that those conversations had indeed happened.<ref name="Missie Moustass: victims confirm conversations">{{Cite web|date=19 October 2024|title=L'écoute téléphonique à Maurice confirmée par "Missie Moustass"|url=https://lexpress.mu/s/lecoute-telephonique-a-maurice-confirmee-par-missie-moustass-539345|publisher=[[L'Express.mu]]}}</ref>

Eventually, the TikTok account was also blocked, after which Missie Moustass created a YouTube Account,<!--https://youtube.com/@missiemoustass?si=vHKhI7EvS2xBTAYJ--> which remained active afterwards. On 1 November 2024, Mauritius suspended access to social media platforms just 10 days before national elections, citing national security concerns amid a scandal involving leaked phone recordings of politicians. Opposition leaders condemned the move as an attack on freedom of expression and a desperate tactic by the ruling party ahead of the [[2024 Mauritian general election|November 10 election]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-01 |title=Île Maurice: les réseaux sociaux coupés à dix jours des élections, sur fond de scandale d'écoutes téléphoniques |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/ile-maurice-les-reseaux-sociaux-coupes-a-dix-jours-des-elections-sur-fond-de-scandale-d-ecoutes-telephoniques-20241101 |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of political parties in Mauritius]]
* [[Prime Minister of Mauritius]]
* [[Elections in Mauritius]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Mauritian elections}}
{{Mauritius topics}}
{{Africa in topic|Politics of}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Politics of Mauritius}}
[[Category:Politics of Mauritius| ]]