Mauritius election: Amid wiretapping scandal, what’s at stake?

The election is being held amid explosive allegations of wiretapping operations by government operatives.

Some one million eligible voters in the Indian Ocean Mauritius will head out to vote on Sunday amid an explosive scandal that has implicated government figures in a covert wiretapping operation.

Since independence from Britain in 1968, the southeast African country has maintained a strong, vibrant parliamentary democracy. This will be its 12th national election.

Elections are usually deemed free and fair and turnout is normally high, at close to 80 percent.

This time, however, the unusual drama caused by the leaked recordings has sparked national agitation and dominated the campaign season.

Tensions have further escalated after authorities last week imposed a social media ban until November 11, a day after the elections. The unprecedented move provoked outrage from opposition groups and citizens, prompting the government to overturn it a day later.