The Hindu : International / Globescan : Mauritius Opposition ahead

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 05, 2005

International

International - Globescan

Mauritius Opposition ahead

PORT LOUIS (MAURITIUS): Early parliamentary election results on Monday showed the Opposition ahead in areas that were considered strongholds of the ruling alliance on Mauritius, private and state-owned radio stations said. About 640 candidates contested Sunday's elections for 62 seats. Eight more deputies will be nominated to represent ethnic minorities and complete Mauritius' 70-member Parliament. Final results were expected to be announced on Monday afternoon. Opposition candidates were leading in 37 seats, while those running on the ticket of the ruling alliance were ahead in 23 seats, according to figures published by electoral officials in radio stations. Between 30 and 40 per cent of the votes had been counted by 3:30 p.m. local time. The elections came as major sugar and textiles industries in Mauritius are scrambling to find ways of surviving deep cuts in European Union sugar subsidies and fierce competition from China's textile manufacturers. Both the governing coalition and the main Opposition alliance pledged to boost the economy during campaign in the close race. Ali Bahoo, deputy chief commissioner of the Electoral Commission of Mauritius, said on state-owned Mauritius Broadcasting Corp. that voting ended at 6 p.m. local time as scheduled. He said voter turnout was about 80 per cent of the 817,000 registered voters. Mr. Bahoo said voting went smoothly except in one constituency where guns were fired, but no casualties were reported or arrests made. — AP

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