Prime Minister outlines Core Institutional Updates in Landmark Constitutional Bill

The Mauritian government has tabled a major piece of legislation in parliament to establish an independent Constitutional Review Commission tasked with examining a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s founding text.

The Constitutional Review Commission Bill, presented on Tuesday, 26 May, marks the direct fulfillment of a core pledge outlined in the Government Programme 2025–2029.

It will create an independent body to gather nationwide feedback and deliver recommendations on potential reforms to the President of the Republic.

Speaking during the Bill’s second reading, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam stated that the constitution must evolve to meet contemporary realities and strengthen democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights.

He clarified that the legislation does not seek immediate constitutional amendments, but rather establishes a formal framework for national consultation and reflection.

To achieve this, the independent commission is mandated to hold public hearings and receive written submissions from a broad spectrum of Mauritian society, including citizens, political parties, public institutions, civil society, legal professionals, and academics.

According to the Prime Minister, the commission will investigate a wide-ranging list of potential constitutional reforms, including:

• Electoral and Political Reform: The introduction of a proportional representation component to the voting system, increased powers for the Electoral Commissioner and the Electoral Supervisory Commission, laws on political financing, anti-defection provisions for MPs, and the right to recall an elected official in cases of serious misconduct.
• Human Rights and Legal Frameworks: Enshrining constitutional protections for the environment, health, education, new technologies, and the “rights of nature”. The body will also look into introducing public interest litigation and class actions, alongside a constitutional framework to support a future Freedom of Information Act.
• Judicial Structure: Restructuring the Supreme Court to create a distinct Court of Appeal and a specialized constitutional division for fundamental rights cases, alongside looking into the potential strengthening of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) independence.
• Governance and Institutions: The creation of a Senior Officials’ Appointment Committee to make recommendations for high-level public institution appointments, a constitutional requirement to hold municipal elections at regular intervals, and the review of an electoral college for electing the President of the Republic.

The Prime Minister concluded by noting that the commission will also be asked to consider how best to integrate the values of peace, justice, and liberty into the constitution, alongside any other matters deemed relevant during its mandate.

Source: Defi Media