MAURITIUS GOES TO THE POLLS

VOTERS in Mauritius have gone to the polls in a test of whether the island state’s old guard can wrest power back from a beleaguered new generation. More than 500 candidates are standing in 21 constituencies for 62 seats in the national assembly. Up to eight other ”best losers” are appointed by the electoral commission, depending on how close they came to winning. The race is chiefly between an alliance of Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam’s Labour Party (PTr) and Xavier-Luc Duval’s small Mauritian Party (PMXD) and an opposition alliance of former Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth’s Socialist Militant party (MSM) and Paul Berenger’s Militant Movement (MMM). At stake is control of a small but prosperous economy and the opportunity to position the island in the new world order. More than 80% of the island’s 750 000 registered voters are expected to cast ballots – including more than 50 centenarians and one woman aged 107. – Reuters