7
Key Takeaways: Cost of Politics
1
The asking price for a vote in 2019 varied between US$132 & US$264. This depended on the constituency and whether the race between contenders was close.
US$
264
US$132
2
Candidates who provide basic goods to voters, not those whose party promises more systematic reform in its manifesto, are likely to be more successful in elections.
3
Candidates predominantly rely on their own money, with family and friends the next port of call for financial support for most candidates.
4
The constituency-related costs associated with being an MP can be monetary, in-kind or even through professional advice.
5
Elected representatives’ loyalty to a political party’s ideology or set of values has been replaced by political calculations driven by a desire to maintain the benefits of office.
6
Outside an electoral campaign, political parties have no legal status in Mauritius, allowing them to escape any system of control or monitoring.
7
A US$3,950 election expenditure ceiling for political party candidates has been unchanged since 1989, despite campaigns becoming more costly and elaborate. Adherence to these spending limits are observed only in their breach.
US$
3,950