# Constitutional Amendment for a Republic (1991)

URL: https://allhistories.com/mauritius/timeline/1991-constitutional-amendment-for-a-republic
Location: Port Louis, Mauritius
Themes: main-event

Since independence the British monarch had been Queen of Mauritius, represented by a Governor-General. Most Mauritian leaders regarded the arrangement as a colonial survival, but attempts to change it had failed: Jugnauth's bill of December 1983, intended to make Seewoosagur Ramgoolam the first president, did not win the required three-quarters majority, and the question remained divisive until the MSM and MMM agreed on a republic in 1990. With its landslide majority after the September 1991 election, the MSM–MMM government introduced the constitutional amendment in late 1991, and in December 1991 the Legislative Assembly passed it. The amendment provided that Mauritius would become a republic within the Commonwealth on 12 March 1992, the 24th anniversary of independence. The Legislative Assembly was renamed the National Assembly, and the Queen was replaced as head of state by a ceremonial President elected by the Assembly, with executive power remaining with the Prime Minister and Cabinet. On 12 March 1992 the Republic of Mauritius was proclaimed. The last Governor-General, Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo, became interim President and was succeeded by Cassam Uteem on 30 June 1992. The change ended the Dominion period and completed the constitutional journey from colony to sovereign republic. At this point in the timeline (December 1991), the Queen of Mauritius was Elizabeth II (12 March 1968 – 12 March 1992); the Governor-General of Mauritius was Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo (17 January 1986 – 12 March 1992). Government: the Prime Minister of Mauritius was Sir Anerood Jugnauth (1982 – 1995).

## Why it matters
The amendment ended the monarchy and created the Republic of Mauritius, proclaimed on 12 March 1992.

Ruler at the Time: [Elizabeth II](https://allhistories.com/mauritius/rulers/elizabeth-ii-uk)

Governor-General of Mauritius: Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo
Prime Minister of Mauritius: Sir Anerood Jugnauth (Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), then Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) from 1983)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Constitution of Mauritius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Mauritius)
- [Wikipedia — History of Mauritius](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Mauritius)
- [Wikipedia — Veerasamy Ringadoo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veerasamy_Ringadoo)
- [National Assembly of Mauritius](https://mauritiusassembly.govmu.org/)
- [Wikipedia — The Dominion Of Mauritius (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritius_(1968%E2%80%931992))