PNQ: Ramgoolam Announces Revision of Election Spending Cap and a Law on Party Funding

On Tuesday, December 9, Navin Ramgoolam announced in the National Assembly the revision of the election spending cap, currently set at Rs 150,000 per candidate, along with the development of a law regarding political party funding.

The Prime Minister was responding to a Private Notice Question (PNQ) from opposition leader Joe Lesjongard about complaints concerning elected officials who exceeded the legal limit during the 2024 elections. According to Navin Ramgoolam, investigations are ongoing, and the cases will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will decide on the next steps. He clarified that he cannot ask the concerned MPs to resign solely based on allegations.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that the election spending cap is no longer suitable for the current reality. This reform comes as several elected officials are under police investigation for exceeding the legal threshold.

In response, Joe Lesjongard emphasized the importance of strengthening the powers of the Electoral Commissioner to better enforce compliance with regulations.