Pravind Jugnauth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pravind Jugnauth
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| 5th Prime Minister of Mauritius | |
| In office 23 January 2017 – 13 November 2024 |
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| President |
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| Deputy | Louis Steven Obeegadoo |
| Preceded by | Anerood Jugnauth |
| Succeeded by | Navin Ramgoolam |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 26 May 2016 – 12 November 2019 |
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| Prime Minister |
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| Preceded by | Anerood Jugnauth (Acting) |
| In office 11 May 2009 – 26 July 2011 |
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| Prime Minister | Navin Ramgoolam |
| Preceded by | Rama Sithanen |
| Succeeded by | Xavier-Luc Duval |
| In office 7 October 2003 – 5 July 2005 |
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| Prime Minister | Paul Berenger |
| Preceded by | Paul Berenger |
| Succeeded by | Rama Sithanen |
| Minister of Technology, Communication and Innovation | |
| In office 14 December 2014 – 1 July 2015 |
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| Prime Minister | Anerood Jugnauth |
| Preceded by | Chedumbrum Pillay |
| Succeeded by | Etienne Sinatambou |
| 11th Leader of Opposition | |
| In office 15 September 2014 – 14 December 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | Navin Ramgoolam |
| Preceded by | Paul Bérenger |
| Succeeded by | Paul Bérenger |
| 3rd Vice Prime Minister of Mauritius | |
| In office 11 May 2010 – 26 July 2011 |
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| Prime Minister | Navin Ramgoolam |
| Preceded by | Rama Sithanen |
| Succeeded by | Anil Bachoo |
| 8th Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius | |
| In office 7 October 2003 – 5 July 2005 |
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| Prime Minister | Paul Bérenger |
| Preceded by | Paul Bérenger |
| Succeeded by | Rashid Beebeejaun |
| Leader of the Militant Socialist Movement | |
| Assumed office 30 October 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Anerood Jugnauth |
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| In office 9 May 2009 – 11 November 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Ashok Jugnauth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 December 1961 La Caverne, British Mauritius |
| Political party | Militant Socialist Movement |
| Spouse | Kobita Ramdanee |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents |
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| Alma mater |
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Pravind Kumar Jugnauth (born 25 December 1961) is a Mauritian politician who was one of the former prime ministers, succeeding his father in 2017, Aneerood Jugnauth, where he led the cabinet until 2019. He then became Prime Minister (PM) again in 2019 following the victory of his coalition, L'Alliance Morisien, where he remained as PM until 2024, where he and his coalition, L'Alliance Lepep faced a humiliating defeat in the Mauritius 2024 General Elections.
Contents
Early life and education
Born on 25 December 1961 in La Caverne, a suburb area in Vacoas-Phoenix, Mauritius, Jugnauth was born into a Hindu Ahir family. He was born to Anerood Jugnauth, former President and PM of Mauritius, and Sarojini Ballah, a schoolteacher. He has an elder sister, Shalini Jugnauth-Malhotra.
After primary schooling at Aryan Vedic, he studied at Royal College Curepipe. He then went on to study law at the University of Buckingham, thus joining the Lincoln's Inn, and became a barrister. He then joined Aix-Marseille University in France where he graduated with a "diploma in civil law."
Family life
Pravind Jugnauth married Kobita Ramdanee in 1992 and is the father of three daughters: Sonika, Sonali and Sara.
Start of political career
Pravind Jugnauth entered the political arena in 1987 and officially joined the MSM in 1990.
2000 to 2005
As Minister of Agriculture from 7 September 2000 to 7 October 2003 (under MSM-MMM government), Jugnauth reformed the sugar sector by diversification with the production of ethanol, agricultural rhum, special sugars, electricity generation from bagasse and other high value-added products. Besides production costs were significantly reduced in response to a drop in the protected sugar price under the Sugar Protocol with the European Union. He also negotiated a package for workers under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme which enabled around 8000 workers to retire with cash compensation exceeding 2.5 billion rupees and around 825 arpents of land worth 3 billion rupees.
Jugnauth also encouraged hydroponics and other modern methods of agricultural production as well as agricultural biotechnology research. He created a National Agricultural Biotechnology Institute and Food Technology Laboratory in Mauritius and later launched the Small Planters Welfare Fund. The fund caters to the welfare of planters and their families and provides crop insurance schemes designed to financially support planters whose crops are affected by unfavourable weather conditions.
As Finance Minister from 7 October 2003 to 5 July 2005, Jugnauth reduced taxes on thousands of commodities. He increased subsidies on basic commodities and gave salary compensations well above inflation rates in two successive years. He launched a project to make Mauritius a Duty Free Island.
2005 to 2009
In June 2005 PM Paul Berenger dissolved the Parliament in preparation for the 2005 General Elections. The Labour-led Alliance Sociale won a total seat of 38 against the MSM-MMM alliance which obtained only 24 seats. Pravind Jugnauth was defeated in his constituency, received 48% of vote and was not elected. Paul Berenger became Leader of the Opposition made up of MSM (14 seats) and MMM (10 seats).
In 2006 MP Ashok Jugnauth left the MSM party and formed a new party following a dispute with Pravind Jugnauth regarding the leadership of the party. At that time Pravind was not an elected member of Parliament but still held leadership of the MSM. Nando Bodha the general secretary of the MSM became Leader of the Opposition after the MSM-MMM alliance split up due to Pravind Jugnauth's disapproval of Paul Berenger's request to make Rajesh Bhagwan the Opposition Chief Whip. In 2007 two members of MSM (Joe Lesongard the party's president and Sekar Naidu) left the MSM and swore allegiance to Berenger who became Leader of the Opposition.
2009 By-Elections
Ashok Jugnauth (half-brother of Sir Anerood Jugnauth and uncle of Pravind) had been elected as MSM member of parliament in Constituency No.8 Quartier Militaire and Moka. But he had to resign in November 2008 as the British Privy Council upheld the guilty verdict that the Supreme Court of Mauritius had issued in 2007 following charges of electoral bribery during the campaign leading to the 2005 General Elections. Thus by-elections had to be held in 2009. Ashok Jugnauth stood as a candidate with the support of MMM. The Labour Party supported Pravind Jugnauth who then announced his candidacy in the 8th constituency. On 2 March 2009, Pravind Jugnauth won the by-elections. His victory paved the way for the next alliance (Labour Party-MSM) during the 2010 general elections.
2009-2014
In 2009, MSM formed a coalition known as Alliance de L'Avenir or Ptr-MSM-PMSD by joining forces with the Mauritian Labour Party and Mauritian Social Democrat Party. The coalition won the May 2010 elections. On Navin Ramgoolam's advice, President Sir Anerood Jugnauth then appointed Jugnauth Vice Prime Minister & Minister of Finance as of 11 May 2010. On 26 July 2011 Jugnauth and all other MSM ministers resigned due to the scandal known as the MedPoint Affair.
In 2014, following the resignation of Paul Berenger as Leader of the Opposition, President Kailash Purryag appointed Jugnauth to the office. Jugnauth served as Leader of the Opposition from September to December 2014.
2014-2017
He was appointed Minister of Information Technology following the Alliance Lepep's victory.
2017-2019
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On 23 January 2017, he was chosen by his party MSM to lead the National Assembly. This triggered the ruling coalition partner Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate to leave the government and join the Opposition. Pravind Jugnauth served as PM of Mauritius during the second half of the Alliance Lepep's mandate which concluded with general elections in November 2019.
2019–2024
Following the victory of the Alliance Morisien (a coalition of MSM-ML-MAG parties) at the 2019 General Elections Pravind Jugnauth was elected as PM for a five-year mandate.
Until 2024, the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean was disputed between the United Kingdom and Mauritius. In February 2019, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that the United Kingdom must transfer the islands to Mauritius as they were illegally separated from the latter in 1965. At first, the UK did not recognise Mauritius' sovereignty claim over the Chagos Archipelago. In October 2020, Jugnauth described the British and American governments as "hypocrites" and "champions of double talk" over their response to the dispute. In a joint declaration by Jugnauth and British prime minister Keir Starmer issued on 3 October 2024, it was announced that an agreement had been reached between the UK and Mauritius about the return of the archipelago to Mauritian sovereignty. Under the agreement, most of the territory constituting the archipelago will be given to Mauritius, while the island of Diego Garcia will remain under the jurisdiction of the UK and USA for at least 99 years, pending the ratification of a treaty between the UK and Mauritius.
Jugnauth conceded his government losing in the 2024 Mauritian general election.
Recognition and awards
Pravind Jugnauth was honoured Doctor from the University of Buckingham with an Honoris Causa in 2005. In 2017 he has awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President of India.
See also
In Spanish: Pravind Jugnauth para niños
