By Villen Anganan
PORT LOUIS (Reuters) – Mauritius held parliamentary elections on Sunday in which Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and his main rivals promised to address the cost of living crisis in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
The polls closed at 6:00 p.m. local time (2:00 p.m. GMT) and the results were expected on Monday (NASDAQ:), according to the country’s electoral body.
The country of about 1.3 million people promotes itself as a link between Africa and Asia, and derives most of its income from a thriving offshore financial sector, tourism and textiles. Mauritius also receives help from China.
He has forecast economic growth of 6.5% this year compared to 7.0% last year, but many voters are not feeling the benefits.
Jugnauth’s Lepep Alliance coalition has promised to raise minimum wages, increase pensions and reduce the value-added tax on some basic products.
It says it will use UK payments under an October deal for Britain to cede the Chagos Islands while retaining the US-British Diego Garcia air base.
“The alliance led by the prime minister is selling the card of economic prosperity, with promises of more money to different segments of the population,” said political analyst Subash Gobine.
The opposition has also pledged to increase pensions, as well as introduce free transport and internet services and reduce fuel prices.
It is dominated by the Alliance du Changement coalition led by Navin Ramgoolam and two other parties competing in the Linion Reform alliance, whose leaders, Nando Bodha and Roshi Bhadain, plan to alternate as prime minister if they win.
Voters elected lawmakers to the 62 seats in parliament for the next five years, from a list of 68 parties and five political alliances.
Music teacher Ivan Mootooveeren, 41, who cast his vote at a polling station in the capital Port Louis, told Reuters he would vote for the opposition because the country needed a new direction.
Another voter, David Stafford, 36, said young people would make a difference in the election. He did not say who he would vote for, but added that people were looking for economic innovation and job opportunities as much as tax changes.
Arvin Boolell, deputy leader of the Labor Party, a member of the opposition coalition, told Reuters that voter turnout had probably surpassed 75%. The electoral body could not immediately be contacted to give an official turnout figure.
Any party or coalition that wins more than half of the seats in parliament will also win the post of prime minister.
Earlier this month, Jugnauth’s government blocked social media platforms until a day after the election, citing national security concerns after conversations between public figures were leaked. It lifted the ban a day later after opposition parties criticized the move.