Jugnauth Slams 'State of the Economy' Report as Political Weapon

Former Prime Minister and leader of the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), Pravind Jugnauth, launched a sharp attack on Thursday morning against the current Mauritian government's handling of its flagship economic report, "The State of the Economy," describing it as a tool of political oppression rather than a legitimate policy document. Speaking at a press conference held at Sun Trust — the MSM's headquarters in Port Louis — Jugnauth accused the government of Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam of deliberately misleading the public through what he called a premeditated strategy of repression and domination. **From 'Worthless Rag' to 'Kitchen Cloth'** Jugnauth seized on the colourful language that has surrounded the report in Mauritian political discourse. The document — which the government used to justify significant cuts to social benefits, including welfare allowances and pension payments — was initially dismissed by critics as a "torchon" (a worthless rag). Jugnauth now says it has been downgraded further to a "chiffon marmite" — a Mauritian Creole expression for a dirty kitchen cloth — a metaphor for something used, discarded, and without credibility. He pointed to confusion within the government itself over who actually authored the report. According to Jugnauth, Prime Minister Ramgoolam claimed in one instance that a minister under his supervision had drafted it, only for Junior Minister Damry to later state on a broadcast programme that external consultants were responsible. Jugnauth used the contradiction to question the credibility of both men: "We know the worth of the word of Ramgoolam and Junior Minister Damry." **The Core Accusation: A Report Used to Cut Pensions** At the heart of Jugnauth's attack is the claim that "The State of the Economy" report — which was presented without signatures, raising questions about its official status — was the key instrument used by the government to justify reducing social transfers to Mauritians, including pension payments to elderly citizens. He described this as "domination over the population." The MSM leader also revisited an earlier government claim: that the previous administration (his own) had falsified economic data and left the national treasury empty. Jugnauth argued that this narrative was used as cover for the cuts, and that the report — unsigned and lacking clear authorship — was presented as evidence to support it. **What This Means** "The State of the Economy" report has become one of the most contested political documents in Mauritius since the change of government. The current administration cited it to implement austerity-style measures affecting ordinary Mauritians, particularly pensioners and welfare recipients. The opposition, led by Jugnauth and the MSM, has consistently challenged its credibility, its authorship, and its accuracy — and now frames it as a deliberate instrument of political control rather than a genuine economic assessment. With questions still swirling over who wrote the report, why it was unsigned, and whether its figures are accurate, the document continues to sit at the centre of one of Mauritius's most heated post-election political battles. Source: ION News