2005 Mauritian general election

2005 Mauritian general election

5 July 2005 (2005-07-05)
All 70 seats in the National Assembly 35 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader Navin Ramgoolam Paul Berenger Party Labour Party MMM Leader since 1991 1995 Leader's seat Pamplemousses and Triolet Rose-Hill and Stanley Last election 8 seats 54 seats Seats before 8 54 Seats won 38 22 Seat change 30 30 Popular vote 948,766 829,460 Percentage 48.8% 42.6% Swing 12.2% 9.1%
Prime Minister before election Paul Berenger MMM Subsequent Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam Labour Party

General elections were held in Mauritius on 3 July 2005, with polls counted on 4 July.

The Alliance Sociale, a coalition led by the Mauritian Labour Party (PTr) and including the Mauritian Party of Xavier-Luc Duval (PMXD), the Mauritian Social Democrat Party (MSN), Les Verts (Greens), the Republican Movement, and the Mauritian Militant Socialist Movement (MMSM), won the election with 42 of the 70 seats (38 elected directly, and another 4 nominated under the country's "best loser" system). The PTr leader, Navin Ramgoolam, was subsequently appointed Prime Minister on 5 July, with Rashid Beebeejaun as his deputy. Three other coalition leaders were elected, but the Les Verts leader failed to oust outgoing Prime Minister Paul Bérenger from his constituency.

24 seats were won by Bérenger's coalition, consisting of the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) and the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM); of these, 22 were directly elected and 2 nominated as "best losers". Pravind Jugnauth, the MSM leader, lost his seat to an Alliance Sociale candidate.

The two seats reserved for the island of Rodrigues were won by the Rodrigues Movement (OPR); another 2 OPR members were appointed as "best losers."

8 of the 70 seats are allocated to "best losers," appointed to ensure that ethnic and religious minorities are equitably represented.

Results

The total number of votes is higher than the population because Mauritians get to vote for up to 3 times in a single election.

Party	Votes	%	Seats
			Elected	Top-up	Total
Alliance Sociale (PTR–PMXD–LVF–MR–MMSM)	948,766	48.8	38	4	42
Alliance MSM-MMM (MMM–MSM–PMSD)	829,460	42.6	22	2	24
Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais	10,184	0.8	2	2	4
All others	156,538	8.0	0	0	0
Total	1,944,948	100	62	7	69
Valid votes	666,178
Invalid/blank votes
Total		100
Registered voters/turnout	817,305	81.5
Source: Psephos