Anerood Jugnauth

Who is Anerood Jugnauth?

Sir Anerood Jugnauth, KCMG, QC, GCSK, PC, LLB, GOLH, GOP, ORS is a Mauritian politician who was President of Mauritius from 2003 to 2012. Previously he was Prime Minister of Mauritius from 1982 to 1995 and again from 2000 to 2003. He is the patriarch of the Jugnauth Family of Mauritius.

He served four consecutive terms as Prime Minister from 1982 to 1995 and was then voted out of office from 1995 to 2000. He was the prime minister who held the office for the longest run, one of 16 years, overtaking Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, who held the office for 14 years. As leader of the Militant Socialist Movement, he became Prime Minister again, for a fifth term, after the 2000 election. His alliance partner, Paul Bérenger of the Mauritian Militant Movement, succeeded him in 2003 after serving as Jugnauth's deputy for three years. Jugnauth was then elected President in 2003. He was a Member of Parliament for 35 years, from 1963 to 1995 and from 2000 to 2003. Often nicknamed as Rambo, in Mauritian politics, he is known as such for his personality as he is the only prime minister who won four general parliamentary elections in a row, those in 1982, 1983, 1987, 1991. He is also the only Mauritian who has served as Leader of the Opposition, Prime Minister and President of the country. He is the only prime minister to have had a sibling and his son in his own cabinet from 2000 to 2003.