Image copyright AFP Image caption Mr Jugnauth has been on Mauritius's political scene for decades

Mauritian Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth says he is stepping down to hand power to his son, Pravind.

The 86-year-old first became prime minister in 1982, beginning a third spell as leader in 2014.

In a televised address Mr Jugnauth said he was resigning in favour of a "younger and more dynamic leader". His son is currently finance minister.

Opposition parties have criticised the move but in practice there is little they can do to stop it.

The younger Jugnauth is head of the Militant Socialist Movement, the largest party in the governing coalition.

A former prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, warned that the family was turning Mauritius into a "banana republic".

Mauritius, an Indian Ocean archipelago, is a former British colony.

In his speech, Mr Jugnauth cited the "Westminster tradition", referring to the transfer of power from David Cameron to Theresa May in the UK without elections, local media reported.

He is due to hand in his resignation on Monday morning.</s>Pravind Jugnauth, son of Indian-origin Anerood Jugnauth, took over as Mauritius Prime Minister on Monday after the 86-year-old former premier resigned in favour of his son.

Anerood Jugnauth, who has been in his post since 2014, announced in a televised address on Saturday that he was resigning in favour of a “younger and more dynamic leader”, reported news channel Africanews. The move prompted accusations of nepotism and calls for refrendum from opponents, according to reports.

Pravind Jugnauth, 55, is the leader of the main political party Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), and had already formed his ministerial cabinet after receiving an appointment letter from President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim. The main opposition Labour Party protested against the appointment which it termed as a “Father-Son Deal”. The police rejected a request from the Labour Party to hold a sit-in protest. Labour leaders urged their supporters to wear black to denounce the move.

“This is a black day for Mauritius. The Jugnauth family is turning the Island into a ‘Banana Republic’. This is great treason in history as the population never voted for this dynastic arrangement,” former Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Navin Ramgoolam said.

Pravind Jugnauth also holds the post of Finance Minister and his party has the majority of seats in the National Assembly since December 2014. The younger Jugnauth has studied Law at University of Buckingham and later joined the Lincoln’s Inn in central London and became a Barrister. He then joined Aix-Marseille University in France where he graduated with an LLM, according to the government of Mauritius portal.

Pravind is married and has three daughters. His father, Anerood, had served as both the President and Prime Minister of Mauritius and held various ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Rodrigues, Defence, Home Affairs and National Development Unit.

His mother, Sarojini Ballah, is a primary school teacher by profession. She had actively participated in several political and social activities and was also the patron of various charitable organisations. A central figure of Mauritian politics in the 1980s and 1990s, the older Jugnauth continuously (except for the periods 1995-2000 and 2012-2014) held a constitutional office since 1976.

Pravind Jugnauth had visited India in September last year as Finance Minister and held talks with India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Sushma had appreciated Pravind Jugnauth for visiting India on his first tour abroad which was said to be in keeping with the “very special blood relationship” between India and Mauritius.

Both sides had decided to extend their collaboration to areas of defence and security, and also restarted talks on a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Partnership Agreement (CECPA). Anerood Jugnauth had visited India in November last year as Prime Minister and had expressed support for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s move to demonetise higher value currency.

Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, is a middle-income country of some 1.3 million people, with a per capita GDP of just over $9,000. People of Indian origin comprise around 68 percent of Mauritius’s total population of over 1.3 million. Most of them are descendants of Indian labourers who were brought in the 19th century and early 20th century to work in the sugarcane plantations.</s>Mauritius Prime Minister To Hand Over Power To His Son

Having ruled since 1982, Mauritian Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth has announced that he will step down and hand over power to a “younger and more dynamic leader”.

He will hand over to his son, Pravind Jugnauth today who is the leader of the Militant Socialist Movement, the largest of the governing coalition parties.

Curiously, Anerood Jugnauth cited the British Parliamentary system as the reason why elections would not be held and likened his country’s situation to the handover of power between David Cameron and Prime Minister Theresa May.</s>Anerood Jugnauth has resigned and handed over the post to his son, Pravind Jugnauth. (Reuters File Photo)</s>Mauritius Prime Minister Resigns, Hands Over Power to His Son

The 86-year-old prime minister of Mauritius said on Saturday that he would resign on Jan. 23 and hand power to his son, who is the current finance minister.

Anerood Jugnauth, who has presided over steady economic growth, said in a televised speech he would continue to serve in government in another, unspecified capacity.

“The time has come for the country to have a young leadership that represents the future,” he said. “I ask the population to support Pravind Jugnauth as it did for me.”

A veteran politician, Anerood Jugnauth was appointed prime minister in December 2014 after Lepep, an alliance of three political parties, won three-quarter of the seats in parliament.

In December, one of the three parties quit the coalition after a row with government over a bill regarding prosecutions, but the remaining two-party alliance still enjoys a parliamentary majority.

Pravind Jugnauth, 55, is expected to be named prime minister early next week.

Famed for its white sand beaches and luxury spas, the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius is diversifying its economy away from sugar, textiles and tourism into offshore banking, business outsourcing, luxury real estate and medical tourism.

The post Mauritius Prime Minister Resigns, Hands Over Power to His Son appeared first on SIGNAL.

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Also, Like us on facebook</s>PORT LOUIS (Reuters) - The 86-year-old prime minister of Mauritius said on Saturday that he would resign on Jan. 23 and hand power to his son, who is the current finance minister.

Anerood Jugnauth, who has presided over steady economic growth, said in a televised speech he would continue to serve in government in another, unspecified capacity.

"The time has come for the country to have a young leadership that represents the future," he said. "I ask the population to support Pravind Jugnauth as it did for me."

A veteran politician, Anerood Jugnauth was appointed prime minister in December 2014 after Lepep, an alliance of three political parties, won three-quarter of the seats in parliament.

In December, one of the three parties quit the coalition after a row with government over a bill regarding prosecutions, but the remaining two-party alliance still enjoys a parliamentary majority.

Pravind Jugnauth, 55, is expected to be named prime minister early next week.

Famed for its white sand beaches and luxury spas, the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius is diversifying its economy away from sugar, textiles and tourism into offshore banking, business outsourcing, luxury real estate and medical tourism.</s>Mauritius premier to step down for son sparks tension

Mauritius is bracing for political turmoil after Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth announced on Saturday he would be stepping down to make way for his son, Parvind.

"I will tender my resignation on Monday as president of the republic. I will relinquish my place to a younger and more dynamic leader, Pravind Jugnauth, who has a parliamentary majority," said the 86-year-old political veteran.

In 2014 he was elected to his sixth term as prime minister, 22 years after first being voted in. He also served as president from 2003 to 2012.

His resignation is no surprise as back in September he had already indicated he would not see out his term, due to end in 2019.

Pravind Jugnauth, the current minister of finance, is also leader of the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), the largest party in the governing coalition.

According to the Mauritian constitution, President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim would ask Pravind Jugnauth, 55, to see if he can form a government once his father leaves office.

With 41 of 69 seats in parliament, the governing coalition should hold, although four ministers defected to the opposition in December over a constitutional row.

Some people believe that Pravind Jugnauth should not be able to succeed his father without elections.

Opposition politicians have called it immoral, while admitting it is legal.

Mauritius is a multi-ethnic archipelago nation of 1.2 million people off the east coast of Africa.

It is the only Hindu-majority country in Africa.

It was colonised by the Dutch in the 17th century, then the French and finally Britain before gaining independence in 1968.</s>The prime minister of Mauritius has officially handed over the office to his son in a controversial transition of power.

Outgoing Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth, 86, said Monday, "The job of prime minister involves great responsibility. It is a great burden. I have carried it, but now it is time to make way for the youth...."

Pravind Jugnauth, the new prime minister, is 55, and was the finance minister before the handover.

The transition was made without the benefit of an election, prompting accusations of nepotism and calls for a new election.

"Everywhere on the island it can be seen that the population is against the 'father and son deal' which has not gone through an election," said Paul Berenger, a former prime minister and a member of the opposition Mauritian Militant Movement.

Berenger said demonstrations will be held to oppose the appointment of the new prime minister.

Mauritius is a model of political stability in Africa, however the handover has created an uproar on the Indian Ocean island, best known as a dream beach holiday destination.</s>Port Louis — Mauritian Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth handed over power to his son Pravind on Monday despite anger from the opposition which has called for new elections in the island nation.

Jugnauth, 86, officially handed his resignation to President Ameenah Gurib Fakim — whose role is ceremonial — after long hinting he would step down before his term expires in 2019.

"The job of prime minister involves great responsibility. It is a great burden. I have carried it but now it is time to make way for the youth," he said after resigning.

His son Pravind, 55, was then handed a letter nominating him to the post ahead of a swearing-in ceremony set for later on Monday.

Mauritius is a model of political stability in Africa, however the handover has created turbulence on the Indian Ocean island, best known as a dream beach holiday destination.

The younger Jugnauth is both finance minister and leader of the ruling Militant Socialist Movement (MSM). Constitutionally, it is he who takes over if the prime minister resigns.

However the opposition has rejected his "inheritance" of the position, and will be boycotting his inauguration.

"The best would have been for the prime minister to dissolve the national assembly before his resignation and call an early election," said opposition leader and former prime minister Paul Berenger.

That sentiment is shared by numerous residents phoning in to local radio shows, declaring they voted for Jugnauth senior in 2014, not his son.

Jugnauth has done several stints as premier since 1982 and one in the ceremonial role of president.

"It is a shame he has ended more than 50 years of political career in this way. We will organise a political campaign across the country to demand the holding of general elections," Berenger said.

Mauritius, an island of 1.3-million inhabitants, regularly tops the Mo Ibrahim index of African governance, and has held a series of peaceful elections and smooth handovers of power since independence from Britain in 1968.
Mauritian Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth announces his intention to resign on Monday and hand power over to his son, Pravind Jugnauth.