Prithvirajsing Roopun
Prithvirajsing Roopun GCSK (born 24 May 1959, also known as Pradeep Roopun) is a Mauritian politician who is serving as President of Mauritius as of 2nd December 2019.[1]
His Excellency Prithvirajsing Roopun | |
---|---|
7th President of Mauritius | |
Assumed office 2 December 2019 | |
Prime Minister | Pravind Jugnauth |
Vice President | Eddy Boissezon |
Preceded by | Ameenah Gurib Barlen Vyapoory (Acting) |
Minister of Arts & Culture | |
In office 24 January 2017 – 12 November 2019 | |
President | Ameenah Gurib (Acting) Barlen Vyapoory |
Preceded by | Dan Babboo |
Succeeded by | Avinash Teeluck |
In office 21 December 2016 – 23 January 2017 | |
President | Kailash Purryag Ameenah Gurib |
Preceded by | Seewoosagur Ramgoolam |
Succeeded by | Navin Ramgoolam |
Minister of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment | |
In office 15 December 2014 – 24 January 2017 | |
President | Ameenah Gurib |
Prime Minister | Anerood Jugnauth Pravind Jugnauth |
Succeeded by | Alain Wong |
3rd Member of Parliament for Constituency No. 9 (Flacq and Bon Accueil) | |
In office 5 May 2010 – 7 November 2019 | |
Preceded by | Dharam Gokhool |
Succeeded by | Vikram Hurdoyal |
Personal details | |
Born | Quatre Bornes, British Mauritius | 24 May 1959
Political party | Militant Socialist Movement (1983–2019) |
Children | 4 |
Residence | State House |
Profession | Attorney |
Early life, education, career and family life
Pradeep Roopun was born in Quatre Bornes and grew up in Morcellement St. Jean, a suburb of Quatre Bornes. After completing high school he trained and worked as a mathematics secondary school teacher at New Eton College and Eden College (Mauritius). Then he went to England to study law at Central Lancashire University.[2] He returned to Mauritius and worked as a notary from 1986 onwards. Between 1990 and 1996 he was also part time lecturer at University of Mauritius. He also sat on the Board of Examiners of the Council of Legal Education. [3]
He is married to Sayukta Roopun. Their daughters are Divya, Adishta and Jyotsna. [4]
Political career
In 1995 he was Mouvement Socialist Mauricien (MSM) candidate in Constituency No. 15 La Caverne/Phoenix but was unsuccessful. In 2000 he was elected for the first time to Parliament in Constituency No. 14 (Savanne/Black River) and became the Chief Whip of the government, and then held office of Minister of Local Government. At the 2005 General Elections he was not elected after being defeated at Constituency No. 6 (Grand Bay/Poudre D'Or). After being elected for the second time in May 2010 at Constituency No. 9 (Flacq/Bon Accueil) he served as Deputy Speaker. At the December 2014 elections he was elected in Constituency No.9 following which he held office of Minister of Social Integration & Economic Empowerment. Then from December 2016 and until the end of term in October 2019 he was Minister of Arts and Culture.
Nomination as President of Mauritius
Although he was not a candidate at the 2019 General Elections, soon after he was nominated as the 7th President of Mauritius by the National Assembly on 2 December 2019 and was sworn in on the same day.[5][6][7]
Controversies
On 11 February 2020 one of the motorcycle policemen, who generally accompany the president's limousine and ensure its clear passage through congested traffic, was seriously hurt when he came off his motorcycle at high speed and in wet weather at Trianon. This prompted a debate about the unnecessary risks that police have to bear in order for politicians to travel on Mauritian roads. [8] At the end of February 2020 the Indian press reported that President Roopun and his family were stopped for carrying excess baggage in Varanasi, India when he was on a private trip. He had to pay extra charges before proceeding with his visit. [9]
References
- Arora, Sumit. "Pritivirajsing Roopun elected as new President of Mauritius by parliament". Retrieved 2019-12-04.
- "Pradeep Roopun, un président qui aime s'occuper de son jardin". L'Express. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
- "Pradeep Roopun, nouveau président de la République : voici son portrait". businessmega.mu. Business Mega. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
- "Pradeep Roopun, un président qui aime s'occuper de son jardin". L'Express. Retrieved 2019-12-03.
- http://president.govmu.org/English/Documents/Communiqu%C3%A9/communiqu%C3%A9%20president%2002.12.2019.pdf
- "Ex-minister Roopun is Mauritian president".
- AFP (2019-12-02). "Mauritius installs ex-culture minister as president". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2019-12-04.
- "Motard percuté à Trianon: grièvement blessé, le policier admis à l'ICU". lexpress.mu. L'Express. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
- "Mauritius president stopped at Varanasi airport over excess luggage". hindustantimes.com. Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2020-02-29.