- The new government of Mauritius has been sworn in, with Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam appointing a new team for his third term. The political alliance led by the PM won the 5 May elections.
Prime Minister Ramgoolam this week presented his new cabinet made up of 25 ministers, including himself. The new cabinet was sworn on Tuesday at the Mauritian State House in a ceremony presided over by President Anerood Jugnauth.
In Mauritius, an old and stable democracy, it is the Prime Minister holding real powers, while the President mostly serves as a representative figure.
PM Ramgoolam won the 5 May parliamentary election as the Alliance de l'Avenir under his leadership achieved a renewed majority of seats. The ruling alliance of parties won 41 out of 62 seats in the national assembly.
The Alliance du Coeur, headed by the leader of the opposition, won 18 seats, Front Solidarité Mauricienne one seat and the Mouvement Rodriguais of the autonomous island of Rodrigues won the remaining two seats.
The solid victory led to PM Ramgoolam to form a new government. Out of 25 ministers, twelve were replaced at the occasion.
The Prime Minister himself decided to hold the portfolio of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth was appointed Minister of Finance, while the portfolio of Foreign Affairs was reallocated to Arvin Boolell.
The new cabinet of Mauritius comprises only three women ministers. Sheilabai Bappoo was appointed Minister of Gender Equality, Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun became Minister of Social Security and Santi Bai Hanoomanjee is now Minister of Health.
Mr Ramgoolam was first elected into office in 1995, holding on to the Mauritian executive until 2000. He was reappointed in 2005 after his left-wing party alliance won legislative elections, defeating then Prime Minister Paul Bérenger.
Mr Ramgoolam also leads the Labour Party of Mauritius.
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