Afrobarometer Survey: Confidence Crisis in Government & Opposition in Mauritius

A recent Afrobarometer survey, released on August 12, highlights a significant lack of public trust in the key democratic institutions and elected officials in Mauritius. Conducted with 1,200 Mauritian respondents, the survey presents a concerning picture of political confidence within the nation.

Key Findings:

• A staggering 57% of those surveyed report little to no confidence in the Prime Minister.
• Similarly, 63% of participants indicate minimal or no confidence in the political opposition.
• Distrust extends to various political entities, with 66% expressing little to no confidence in municipal and district councils, and 61% in the National Assembly.

Despite this distrust, the Prime Minister garners a slightly higher confidence rating than his party, receiving 41% of respondents’ trust compared to just 35% for the ruling party.

Concerns about corruption are prevalent among those surveyed, with approximately 61% believing that corruption has “somewhat” or “greatly” increased over the past year.

About 30% of respondents perceive “most” or “all” members of the National Assembly as corrupt, along with 28% indicating the same about business leaders and the Prime Minister’s office.

A significant majority acknowledged some level of corruption across various governmental institutions.

Performance Ratings of Elected Officials:

• Prime Minister:
• 49% approve or strongly approve his performance.
• 43% disapprove or strongly disapprove.
• Municipal and District Councillors:
• 44% approval rating.
• 48% disapproval rating.
• Members of the National Assembly:
• 42% approval rating.
• 49% disapproval rating.

Institutional Trust Levels:

• Judiciary:
• 42% have little to no confidence.
• 56% express significant or some level of trust.
• Ministry of Health:
• 43% report little to no confidence.
• 55% show significant or some trust.
• Police:
• 47% express little to no confidence.
• 52% indicate some level of trust.
• Electoral Commission:
• 43% express minimal confidence.
• 49% express some confidence.
• National Assembly:
• 61% report little to no confidence.
• Only 36% express significant or some level of trust.
• Ruling Party:
• 63% express little to no confidence.
• Just 35% have some confidence.
• Opposition Parties:
• 63% report little to no confidence.
• Only 26% express significant or some level of trust.

Shifting Attitudes Towards Corruption:

Interestingly, fewer Mauritians are identifying corruption as the country’s primary issue compared to previous years.

In 2024, only 11% cited corruption as a major problem, down from 19% in 2020.

Additionally, while 50% reported a substantial increase in corruption in 2022, that number has decreased to 42% in 2024.

Perceptions on Combating Corruption:

The survey also revealed widespread skepticism regarding the government’s efforts to combat corruption:

• 63% consider the government’s actions in this arena ineffective.
• 67% fear reprisals for reporting corruption.

Public Expectations from the National Assembly:

Approximately 78% of respondents felt that the National Assembly should hold the Prime Minister accountable for the management of taxpayer funds.

Furthermore, 53% believed that the Prime Minister “never” or “rarely” engages meaningfully with the Assembly and courts.

Term Limits for the Prime Minister:

The concept of imposing term limits on the Prime Minister has gained traction, with 64% of respondents supporting a constitutional cap of two terms—an increase of 3 percentage points from the previous 2022 survey.

Political Stakes in Belle-Rose/Quatre-Bornes (Constituency No. 18):

As the political climate heats up ahead of the upcoming elections, the constituency of Belle-Rose/Quatre-Bornes has emerged as a pivotal battleground.

The opposition alliance of Labour Party, MMM, and New Democrats has already unveiled their candidates, while speculation arises regarding the potential influence of Xavier-Luc Duval in the race.

Observations suggested that Duval’s candidacy might be a double-edged sword, with a history suggesting that without Labour Party support, his electoral chances could be severely diminished.

Simultaneously, the ruling MSM party is strategizing to enhance its position, potentially through candidate alignments aimed at countering opposition momentum.

As the political landscape is evolving, the outcome of constituency No. 18 is deemed to possess significant implications for both the ruling party and opposition, reflecting broader trends of public sentiment and trust as indicated by the latest Afrobarometer survey.

Source: Defi Media