Electoral Reform: A Citizen Reflection

Fifty-seven years after Independence and thirty-three years after being elevated to the status of a Republic, Mauritius is undoubtedly ready for a thoughtful electoral reform. This reform must acknowledge that the social fabric, although harmonious in appearance, remains fragile. It is crucial to remember that the Best Loser System (BLS) was initially a catalyst for its economic rise. Without social and political stability, the economy and development suffer.

1. The Best Loser System (BLS)

It is important to recognize that this system allows for the inclusion of the best losers; eight seats are allocated to certain communities to ensure that all components of Mauritian society are represented in the National Assembly. This has helped to consolidate social harmony and build trust among the population over these 57 years. Despite the positive note on this matter, communalism still lingers in our multicultural society, hence caution is warranted.

Certainly, the Best Loser System needs to be reviewed and adapted with the upcoming reforms. Completely eliminating it may not be the ideal solution at this moment. Its removal could encourage some to reignite communal tensions. We should give it time to be fully removed from our electoral system. Nonetheless, a reduction in the number of seats is desirable.

Recommendation: Three representatives in the Best Losers system instead of eight, still based on the current census, before its complete removal from our electoral system.

2. Voter Parity at the Constituency Level

Democracy also requires an equitable number of voters per constituency.

Currently, the number of voters in four constituencies ranges from 30,545 to 36,734. In eight other constituencies, it is between 41,478 and 48,793, and in the remaining eight constituencies, it ranges from 51,415 to 60,570. In Rodrigues, the number of voters is 33,660.

Strengthening democracy fundamentally involves a more equitable delineation of constituencies. We need to increase the number of constituencies to honor this fundamental principle of democracy. The Electoral Boundaries Commission should be able to create constituencies with a more equitable distribution.

The configuration of the twenty constituencies allows for increasing the number of constituencies in Mauritius to 25 instead of 20, with an average of 39,700 voters, with a variation of around 1,500 voters, rather than a difference of 27,000 as is the case between constituency number 2 and number 18. It is important to reduce the disparity between constituencies.

Recommendation: Twenty-five constituencies instead of twenty.

3. Reduction of Elected Representatives per Constituency

Three representatives per constituency is excessive. This is also a loss of human and financial resources for the country. Often, this creates confusion among the elected officials. Some only cater to individuals from their community or caste. Unfortunately, elected officials tend to favor those who voted for them from their community or caste. Look at the advisors appointed by ministers, who will confirm my observation. Elected officials of a constituency should represent the entire constituency, including those who voted against them, and not just their community or caste. On one hand, two representatives per constituency would mitigate this partisan sentiment and facilitate the emergence of a Mauritian Nation, while on the other hand, the saved funds could be used to build additional homes for the homeless, children, and battered women.

Furthermore, politics is about working to improve the quality of life for citizens.

Recommendation: Two representatives instead of three per constituency for the 25 constituencies, as suggested above.

4. Academic Qualifications to be Candidates

Strengthening democracy is also linked to the quality of individuals representing the people in the National Assembly. With free education introduced by the Father of the Nation in 1976, almost forty-nine years ago, the intellectual level of Mauritians has significantly progressed. Electoral reform must consider this progress and establish minimum academic qualifications for candidacy.

Politics, once populist, has evolved into a science requiring many qualities such as integrity, leadership, empathy, vision, and closeness to the electorate, including those with opposing views. Moreover, our elected officials are well compensated to attract the best of our intellects for the benefit of the country.

Recommendation: A minimum of a university degree.

5. Proportional Representation (PR)

To uphold a worthy democracy, the system must protect against a National Assembly with 60 unoccupied seats. Sixty empty seats stifle a country's democratic life. Reform must ensure that in the future, the voice of a significant minority is never excluded from the National Assembly. However, the degree of proportional representation (PR) must not render the country ungovernable.

Political parties or groups must obtain 13% or more of the national vote to be eligible for PR. Each additional 0.5% of votes, as calculated, would allocate an additional representative through this system.

Finally, to respect the popular choice, all political parties or groups, including the one winning the majority through the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system, must participate in the PR.

Recommendation: 13 representatives based on proportional representation.

6. Women's Representation in Elections

Women represent about 52% of the population. The reform must also ensure that political parties/groups choose at least 35% women as candidates or on their PR list.

This would result in more female representatives in the National Assembly.

7. Reduction of Representatives in the National Assembly

Mauritius is a small island with limited resources, though some refer to it as an ocean island. Resources should primarily be used for the well-being of its inhabitants rather than wasted by increasing the number of elected officials to 80.

Instead, the number of representatives should be reduced from 3 to 2 per constituency. Thus, the elected officials will represent the constituency as a whole, not just a community or caste.

This would result in 50 representatives for the twenty-five constituencies of Mauritius, two representatives for Rodrigues, 3 for the BLS, 13 on the PR list, and one representative for our compatriots from Agaléga and Diego Garcia, and the islands.

Thus, the National Assembly would comprise 69 parliamentarians, which is more than sufficient to represent a population of 1.2 million.

Recommendation: A National Assembly of sixty-nine members.

8. Voting Rights for Diasporas

The eligibility criteria for voting rights for Mauritians living abroad must be urgently considered. Those who have retained their Mauritian nationality will feel closer to their motherland. The diaspora contributes to promoting the image of Mauritius in their adopted countries.

9. Political Party Financing

This is a topic concerning taxpayers' money. We should not rush into it. It is essential to consider all implications and risks of waste before arriving at a reasonable formula.

This government has the responsibility to present the reform of the current system at least twelve months before the next election date, so that the population has time to fully assimilate it.

Jay K. Hurry