Mauritius: Electoral management bodies

Updated 2000

The Electoral Supervisory Commission

The Electoral Supervisory Commission (ESC) is a constitutional body responsible for electoral management and supervision. It consists of a Chairperson appointed by the President in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Service Commission and not less than two or more than seven other members appointed by the President, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister tender after the Prime Minister has consulted the Leader of the Opposition. Political parties do not have representatives on the Electoral Supervisory Commission.

The Electoral Commissioner

The Electoral Commissioner is a public officer qualified to practice as a barrister at law and appointed by the Judicial and Legal Service Commission. Section 40(3) of the Constitution states that in the exercise of his functions "the Electoral Commissioner shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority".

According to the two main political alliances, the Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mohammed Abdool Rahman, commends considerable respect among the political actors and the population as a whole. At briefings with international observers from the SADC Parliamentary Forum on 9 September 2000, both the PTr/PMXD and the MSM/MMM admitted that the Electoral Commissioner and the ESC members are credible personalities. The two main political alliances praised the electoral management bodies for conducting a transparent and well-organised electoral process.

In its manifesto, the MSM/MMM plans to reinforce the power of the ESC to ensure a better delivery of free and fair elections. The opposition alliance argues that with reinforced powers, the ESC will be in a position to elaborate a code of conduct for political parties and candidates contesting an election. The ESC would also be empowered to elaborate a legal framework for the broadcasting of political programmes in the electronic media and to monitor the implementation of the legal provisions on the matter and ensure enforcement mechanisms.