This week, Mauritius lost five spots in the Freedom of the Press ranking by Reporters without Borders. Last month, the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) report produced by the V-Dem Institute at the University of Gothenburg ranked Mauritius in the top 10 autocratizing countries. What does this mean about the state of democracy on the island? Should you be worried?
Mauritius is the 61st country, out of 180, with the most Freedom of Press. A decline in five spots since the last report. Furthermore, according to the V-Dem report, Mauritius is in the top 10 (ranked 8th) of countries which are moving the most towards autocratization. The country is up there with Poland, Hungary, Turkey, Brazil, Serbia, Benin, India, Bolivia and Thailand.
Autocratization explained
The indicators used by the V-Dem report to compile its data are, amongst others, regular elections, judicial independence, direct democracy, gender equality. According to the report, the process of autocratization usually starts in similar ways : “Ruling governments first attack the media and civil society, and polarize societies by disrespecting opponents and spreading false information, then undermine elections”.
Regarding Mauritius, the authors of the report describe the inclusion of the island in the top 10 autocratizing countries as a surprise. “The sharp decline in the indicator for quality of elections in 2019 is likely related to widespread allegations of electoral fraud in the November 2019 parliamentary elections. The election period also saw complaints of false information being disseminated by both the government and the opposition. With the COVID-19 pandemic, further anti-democratic measures were enacted, including the suspension of parliament in December 2020 and dispersion of peaceful protests”.
The report also reported that Mauritius had slipped to only an electoral democracy in 10 years. Indeed, according to the V-Dem's institute report, in 2010 Mauritius was also a liberal democracy where individual liberties and property were protected by the rule of law.
What has changed, then?
The year 2020 was no easy feat for the island with a three months long lockdown, an oil-spill and two massive, albeit peaceful, protests.
But according to the sources cited by the V-Dem report, the 2019 election played an important role in this ranking. Indeed, the 2019 electoral campaigns were marked by allegations of the spread of fake news both from the government and the opposition. Furthermore, the elections were contested in court by several candidates on the basis of electoral bribe. The cancelling of the elections were also demanded by a citizen's group in a constitutional plaint.
Another event which seems to have been taken into account: the peaceful protests which took place in August and October last year. A massive citizen's demonstration against the ruling party. However, this protest saw massive police presence. Other events, for example, the appearance of a minister in front of a court in Port-Louis also saw the presence of military police which was described as uncalled for by the press, the opposition and citizens.
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press: An important pillar of democracy. And one that has definitely influenced the V-Dem ranking but also, the Freedom of Press ranking from Reporters without Borders. Reporters without Borders explains the island's 61st place is due to several violations of freedom of the press over the past year.
Two media outlets, Top FM, a radio, and L'Express, a newspaper and online news website, have been subject to censorship and boycotts during the past year. Journalists from both outlets have been excluded from governmental press conferences and Top FM has also been censored for 72 hours.
COVID-19 and democracy around the world
The V-Dem report also shines a light on the decline in democracy around the world because of the crisis. Indeed, with the instauration of states of emergency in almost all countries around the world and restriction on personal freedom, democracy was doomed to a backslide around the world. According to V-Dem, most democracies acted major violations of international norms were noted in 9 democracies and moderate violations in 23 democracies. Furthermore, two thirds of countries put in place media regulations during the pandemic and a third had emergency states without a time limit.
What do expats think of this?
Expats do not think much of this ranking. “Mauritius is definitely not even close to being the worst on the planet with regards to democracy. When you live here, you do not feel a breach in personal freedom as you would in other countries”, says Etienne, a French expat living in Mauritius. Adastro goes on to say that all democracies are almost all turning to autocracies anyway. “All freedom has vanished since march 2020 and it was no better before. The French President was also only elected by 30% of the population”, he says.
Others remain cautious of the situation, however. “These two rankings are important. And in addition to the ranking of Mauritius on the blacklist for tax havens, it is a bit much. The authorities need to be careful”.
