Ramgoolam, Navinchandra

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Navinchandra Ramgoolam, 1947–, Mauritian political leader, prime minister of Mauritius, (1995–2000, 2005–14), son of of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Mauritius's first prime minister. A doctor, he practiced medicine from 1975 to 1987, then trained as a lawyer (1987–1990) and entered politics. A member of the Labor party, when he was elected leader of the opposition in 1991. He became prime minister in 1995 as head of a coalition government, but the coalition lost the 2000 elections. In 2005 and 2010, Ramgoolam's Labor-led coalition was returned to power. He again served as prime minister, and worked to diversify Mauritius's economy and increase foreign investment. In 2014 Ramgoolam formed a Labor–Mauritian Militant Movement coalition that advocated constitutional changes to increase the president's powers, but it lost the election.