Parliamentary elections were being held in the Indian Ocean island state of Mauritius on Sunday, with the Alliance Lepep governing coalition, led by Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, seen as favourites to retain power.

The main challenger is the opposition coalition, Alliance for Change, led by Navin Ramgoolam, who served as prime minister twice. 

Alliance Lepep (People’s Alliance) is campaigning on pledges to expand the green economy, cut value-added tax and increase minimum pay and pensions.

The opposition has based its campaign on the provision of better health care, cuts to income tax and lower electricity and petrol prices.

Ahead of the poll, the former British colony was hit by a wiretapping scandal, in which illegally recorded exchanges between politicians, businesspeople, journalists and civil society representatives were broadcast on social media.

The communications supervisory authority promptly shut down access to social media for several days. Jugnauth and his cabinet were the main parties hit by the scandal.

Results are expected on Monday or Tuesday, with the party securing a simple majority of the 62 seats appointing the prime minister.

Mauritius, which lies to the east of Madagascar, has a population of around 1.26 million. It drew as many as 1.31 million tourists in the 12 months to June 2024.

Financial services and the export of fish, sugar and clothing are other major contributors to its economy. 

(dpa/NAN)