Government and Politics of Mauritius

Government Type

parliamentary democracy

Administrative Divisions

9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne

Legal System

based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 out of the previous 7 years including the last 12 months

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Prithvirajsing ROOPUN (since 2 December 2019) and Vice President Marie Cyril Eddy BOISSÉZON (since 2 December 2019) head of government: Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 12 November 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president and responsible to the National Assembly election results: Prithvirajsing ROOPUN elected president and Marie Cyril Eddy BOISSÉZON elected vice president on 2 December 2019; Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM appointed prime minister following the Labour Party-led alliance victory in the November 2024 general elections, returning him to the post he previously held from 2005 to 2014

Legislative Branch

unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 62 elected by popular vote, 8 appointed by the election commission to give representation to various ethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AS 38, MSM/MMM 22, OPR 2; appointed seats - AS 4, MSM/MMM 2, OPR 2

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

Political Parties

Alliance Sociale or AS [leader NA]; Hizbullah [Cehl Mohamed FAKEEMEEAH]; Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER] - in coalition with MSM; Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD [Charles Xavier-Luc DUVAL]; Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH] - governing party; Rodrigues Movement or MR [Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR [Serge CLAIR]

Head of State

President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH

Head of Government

Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

Elections

president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 19 September 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly

Election Results

Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH reelected president by unanimous vote; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%

Constitution

12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992

Independence

12 March 1968 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Usha JEETAH chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492 FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador John PRICE embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450 telephone: [230] 202-4400 FAX: [230] 208-9534

Capital City

Port Louis

Location

20 09 S, 57 29 E

Time Difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

named after LOUIS XV, who was king of France in 1736 when the port became the administrative center of Mauritius and a major reprovisioning stop for French ships traveling between Europe and Asia

U.S. Embassy Mauritius 4th floor of the Rogers House on John F. Kennedy Street Port Louis, Mauritius Emergency after-hours telephone: ( 230) 5 253-3641 Telephone: ( 230) 202-4400 Facsimile: ( 230) 208-9534 Email: ptlconsular@state.gov

Military Branches

no regular military forces; Mauritius Police Force, Special Mobile Force, National Coast Guard