The opposition Alliance of Change in Mauritius has won all 60 seats up for grabs on the archipelago’s main island following Sunday’s parliamentary election.<\/p>\n
Opposition leader Navin Ramgoolam, 77, said “the power of the people” had triumphed.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, 62, had already acknowledged on Monday that his Lepep alliance was heading for a “huge defeat”.<\/p>\n
Mauritius is known as one of Africa’s most stable democracies, but this election was tainted by a phone-tapping scandal, with leaked recordings of public figures posted online.<\/p>\n
In response, the government issued a social media ban until after the election, although this led to an outcry and the decision was reversed within 24 hours.<\/p>\n
Final results are set to be released later on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Ramgoolam, a former doctor, looks set to become the country’s prime minister for the third time. His second term in office, having served the last time between 2005 and 2014.<\/p>\n
“The court of the people has delivered its verdict and a new Mauritius awakes,” he told supporters.<\/p>\n
“We must respect this choice… and we wish the country and the population good luck,” said Jugnauth.<\/p>\n
The mood in the capital Port Louis reflects this changing tide, as people gathered on Monday in anticipation of results that would signal a fresh direction for the country.<\/p>\n