Opposition leader Navin Ramgoolam appointed prime minister of Mauritius following election win

​​​​​​​By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - The opposition leader in Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, was officially appointed Tuesday as the new prime minister following the Alliance of Change coalition's victory in parliamentary elections.

The announcement was made by President Prithvirajsing Roopun in a statement.

Ramgoolam, 77, is returning to power after his alliance ousted the Alliance Lepep, led by outgoing Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. Ramgoolam previously served as prime minister from December 1995 - September 2000 and July 2005 - December 2014.

The elections saw more than 1 million registered voters cast ballots. Many were motivated by concerns about economic hardships and allegations of political misconduct.

The opposition secured a commanding victory with 62.6% of the vote, claiming 60 of the 62 seats in the National Assembly.

Ramgoolam's victory marked the end of the Militant Socialist Movement's (MSM) seven-year rule and ousting Jugnauth, who had been in power since 2017.

It is a significant shift in the political landscape in Mauritius, with voters expressing dissatisfaction with Jugnauth’s administration, particularly its handling of the economy and a wiretapping scandal that raised civil rights concerns.