Anerood Jugnauth
Sir Anerood Jugnauth Yadav, GCSK, PV, KCMG, PC, QC (29 March 1930 – 3 June 2021) was a Mauritian statesman, politician and barrister who served both as President and Prime Minister of Mauritius. He was Member of Parliament for Piton & Riviere Du Rempart. A central figure of Mauritian politics in the 1980s and 1990s, he was Leader of the Opposition from 1976 to 1982. He served four consecutive terms as prime minister from 1982 to 1995 and again from 2000 to 2003. He was then elected as President, serving as such from 2003 to 2012. Following his party's victory in the 2014 general elections, he served his sixth and final term as prime minister, becoming the nation's longest serving prime minister with more than 18 years of tenure overtaking Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who held the office for 14 years.
Anerood Jugnauth | |
|---|---|
Jugnauth in 2013 | |
| 4th President of Mauritius | |
| In office 7 October 2003 – 31 March 2012 | |
| Prime Minister | |
| Vice President | |
| Preceded by | Karl Offmann |
| Succeeded by | Monique Ohsan Bellepeau (acting) |
| 2nd Prime Minister of Mauritius | |
| In office 17 December 2014 – 23 January 2017 | |
| President | |
| Preceded by | Navin Ramgoolam |
| Succeeded by | Pravind Jugnauth |
| In office 12 September 2000 – 30 September 2003 | |
| President | |
| Preceded by | Navin Ramgoolam |
| Succeeded by | Paul Bérenger |
| In office 30 June 1982 – 20 December 1995 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II (1982–1992) |
| President | |
| Gov.‑General | |
| Preceded by | Seewoosagur Ramgoolam |
| Succeeded by | Navin Ramgoolam |
| 4th Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 20 December 1976 – 11 June 1982 | |
| Prime Minister | Seewoosagur Ramgoolam |
| Preceded by | Sookdeo Bissoondoyal |
| Succeeded by | Gaetan Duval |
| Leader of the Militant Socialist Movement | |
| In office 8 April 1983 – 30 October 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Pravind Jugnauth |
| Member of Parliament for Piton and Rivière du Rempart | |
| In office 11 December 2014 – 7 November 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Prathiba Bolah |
| Succeeded by | Manish Gobin |
| In office 11 September 2000 – 7 September 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Deva Virahsawmy |
| Succeeded by | Rajesh Jeetah |
| In office 20 December 1976 – 20 December 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Hurry Ramnarain |
| Succeeded by | Deva Virahsawmy |
| In office 21 October 1963 – 7 August 1967 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Hurry Ramnarain |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 March 1930 Palma, British Mauritius |
| Died | 3 June 2021 (aged 91) Floréal, Mauritius |
| Political party |
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| Other political affiliations | Independent (2003–2012; 1967–1969) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including Pravind |
| Alma mater | Inns of Court School of Law |
Under Jugnauth's leadership, his party/alliances won 5 general parliamentary elections in a row in 1976, 1982, 1983, 1987, and 1991. He then led the MMM in its first electoral campaign and was presented as prime minister in 1976. The MMM won but could not govern due to a hung parliament and Jugnauth became Leader of the Opposition up to 1982 where the MMM-PSM alliance won all the seats. He became prime minister up to 1995. He was appointed again as prime minister in 2000 and finally as President in 2003.
Jugnauth was a cabinet minister during the leadership of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam from 1965 up to 1969. In 1970, he moved out and went to the newly created political party of the Mauritian Militant Movement, where he eventually became its leader in 1982. He created his own political party called Militant Socialist Movement in 1983 and was once more elected. His party remained in power up to 1995.
Jugnauth founded the Militant Socialist Movement party in 1983. He was honoured with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards for his continued support for India's causes and concerns and for strengthening India's relationship with Mauritius. Following his tenure as President, Jugnauth led an alliance known as "L'Alliance LEPEP" which won the 2014 general elections. He resigned in January 2017 and was succeeded by his son Pravind Jugnauth as prime minister.
Jugnauth was made Queen's Counsel in 1980 and was made a member of the Privy Council in 1983. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1988 when Mauritius was still one of the Queen's realms.