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Pravind JugnothPrime Minister of Mauritius since 23 January 2017
Date of Birth: 25.12.1961
Country:  Mauritius |
Content:
- Pravind Jugnauth: The Prime Minister of Mauritius
- Rise in the MSM
- Coalition Government with the Mauritian Militant Movement
- Leadership Challenges and Electoral Success
- Alliance with the Labour Party
- Succession as Prime Minister
Pravind Jugnauth: The Prime Minister of Mauritius
Early Life and Political CareerPravind Jugnauth was born as the only son of Sir Anerood Jugnauth, who served as the President and Prime Minister of Mauritius three times. In 1990, he joined the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), a party founded by his father. Jugnauth first ran for Parliament in 1995 but was unsuccessful. However, in 1996, he was elected to the Vacoas-Phoenix Municipal Council.
Rise in the MSM
In 1999, Jugnauth became Deputy Leader of the MSM and was elected to Parliament in 2000. He served as Minister of Agriculture in his father's government. In 2003, Anerood Jugnauth became President, and Pravind Jugnauth succeeded him as Leader of the MSM.
Coalition Government with the Mauritian Militant Movement
In accordance with a coalition agreement between the MSM and the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) led by Paul Bérenger, Bérenger became Prime Minister while Jugnauth served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. However, the MSM-MMM coalition lost the 2005 elections, and Jugnauth lost his parliamentary seat.
Leadership Challenges and Electoral Success
Jugnauth's leadership was briefly challenged by his uncle, Ashok Jugnauth, who left the MSM to form the National Union. In 2009, Jugnauth unexpectedly won a by-election against Ashok Jugnauth, who had been stripped of his mandate due to financial improprieties.
Alliance with the Labour Party
In the 2010 elections, the MSM allied with the Labour Party. Jugnauth again became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in the government led by Navin Ramgoolam. However, a scandal erupted over the government's approval of the state purchase of a private medical clinic owned by Jugnauth's sister. Jugnauth and the MSM returned to the opposition, re-aligning with the MMM.
Succession as Prime Minister
In 2012, President Anerood Jugnauth resigned due to a conflict with Ramgoolam. The MMM, however, allied with the Labour Party in 2014, leading to early parliamentary elections. This coalition was defeated by the MSM. Jugnauth's father became Prime Minister, appointing his son as Minister of Information Technology.
In 2016, following a successful appeal to the Supreme Court quashing a conflict of interest charge related to the medical clinic, Jugnauth returned to the post of Minister of Finance. With his father's retirement due to health reasons, Jugnauth became Prime Minister on January 23, 2017.
