JOHANNESBURG — Following the parliamentary elections held on Sunday, the ruling coalition in Mauritius is expected to face a significant defeat, as indicated by Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth during a press conference on Monday. He conceded that his party, the Militant Socialist Movement, has been rejected by the electorate, despite the vote-counting process still being underway.

Jugnauth, who has been in power since 2017, was campaigning for another five-year term in the Indian Ocean nation. However, his government grappled with accusations of corruption, particularly following the release of recorded conversations involving various politicians and business figures that surfaced online.

The leading opposition group, the Alliance for Change coalition, spearheaded by former prime minister Navin Ramgoolam, seems to be on the brink of a victorious outcome. At this moment, they had not offered any immediate response regarding the situation.

“The population has decided to choose another team. I wish good luck to the country,” Jugnauth expressed, signaling the anticipated shift in governance.

Complete election results were expected later on Monday. More than one million voters were registered for this election, marking the 12th since Mauritius achieved independence from British rule in 1968. Voters were tasked with selecting representatives for 62 parliamentary seats, and the political party or coalition that secures a majority will establish the government and appoint the prime minister.

Situated approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) from the eastern coast of Africa, Mauritius has cultivated a robust economy primarily driven by its finance, tourism, and agricultural industries. The country had momentarily attained high-income status in 2020 before facing setbacks in its tourism sector due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.