Paul Raymond Bérenger (born 26 March 1945) is a Mauritian politician who served as the fourth prime minister of Mauritius from 2003 to 2005. Bérenger previously served as deputy prime minister three times: from 1995 to 1997, 2000 to 2003 and 2024 to 2026.
He has served as foreign minister and finance minister, twice, in the governments of Anerood Jugnauth and Navin Ramgoolam. Bérenger, a Catholic, is the only Christian and Franco-Mauritian who has served as Prime Minister of the country.
He has been Leader of the Opposition on several occasions – from 1983 to 1987, 1997 to 2000, 2005 to 2006 and 2007 to 2016, with brief hiatuses. Bérenger holds the longest-serving record in this constitutional position.
Early life, education and family
Bérenger was born to Mauritian parents whose ancestors arrived in Mauritius from France in the 1700s. Geneviève Bérenger, his mother, was the daughter of Auguste Esnouf, an engineer and author who used pen name Savinien Mérédac to write novels and newspaper articles. He completed his secondary schooling at the Collège du Saint-Esprit in Quatre Bornes. He travelled to the UK to study Philosophy and French, attended the Sorbonne in Paris and graduated from the Bangor University with a BA Hons in philosophy and French. He later worked as a Trade Unionist from 1970 to 1982 and was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the first time in December 1976.
Bérenger founded the Mauritian Militant Movement in 1969 along with Dev Virahsawmy and the Jeerooburkhan brothers. This party has always received more than 40% of direct votes in general elections.
In 1971 Bérenger narrowly escaped a murder attempt, whilst his assistant Azor Adelaide died soon after being shot by rival political activists on Chasteauneuf Street in Curepipe.
Bérenger was first elected in Constituency No. 18 (Belle Rose and Quatre Bornes) at the December 1976 elections. The remaining 2 seats were secured by Independence Party (Labour-CAM) candidates James Burty David and Heeralall Bhugaloo. The general elections of 1976 turned out to be a three-way contest between the Independence Party (Labour-CAM coalition), the Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate (PMSD), and the MMM. There was a hung parliament, with 34 of the 70 seats in the National Assembly going to the MMM, 28 seats to the Labour Party, and 8 seats to the PMSD. Ramgoolam remained in office, however, by forging a coalition with the PMSD for a bare majority. Anerood Jugnauth was appointed Leader of the Opposition.
In government and split (1982–1983)
At the June 1982 general election, Bérenger was elected in Constituency No. 18 (Belle Rose and Quatre Bornes) at the top of the list as a candidate of the MMM-PSM coalition. His running mates Kailash Ruhee and Devanand Routho secured the remaining seats in that constituency. The alliance won all 60 directly elected seats in the Legislative Assembly (except for two seats allocated to Rodrigues Island). Jugnauth became prime minister and Harish Boodhoo was appointed deputy prime minister. Bérenger subsequently became the minister of finance.
In February 1983, fearing a coup d'état by Bérenger, Jugnauth sought for help from the Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi in case such an event materialises. The military operation was codenamed Operation Lal Dora and Indian troops were to be deployed secretly to Mauritius. While Jugnauth was on a trip to India during a Non-Aligned Movement summit, Bérenger arranged for the Mauritian national anthem to be played on Independence Day in Creole and referred to it as the national language, rather than English.
Afterwards, Bérenger proposed a constitutional amendment removing the executive powers of the prime minister and entrusting them to the cabinet collectively. In this, he was supported by Harish Boodhoo, but Jugnauth strongly objected. Bérenger then sought a parliamentary motion of no confidence to have Jugnauth replaced as prime minister by Prem Nababsing. Before the Legislative Assembly could vote on the matter, however, Jugnauth dissolved Parliament without any notice and called for new elections in August 1983. Jugnauth formed a new political party, the Militant Socialist Movement, after the members of the MMM split in the aftermath of the falling out.
In the 1983 general election, Bérenger stood as candidate of the MMM in Constituency No. 18 (Belle Rose and Quatre Bornes). But this time he was not elected whilst his rivals Michael Glover, Anil Gayan and Raj Virahsawmy of the MSM-Labour coalition were elected in that constituency. However, Bérenger was narrowly returned as a member after the allocation of additional seats to the Assembly, which was mandated by the constitution.
In 1987, he was not re-elected for his seat, nor was he allocated a seat under the best-loser system. His rivals of the MSM-Labour coalition (Michael Glover, Balkrishn Gokulsing and Raj Virahsawmy) were elected to the Legislative Assembly.
Second alliance with Jugnauth (1990–1993)
At the August 1991 general elections Bérenger was elected to the Legislative Assembly under the MSM-MMM coalition in Constituency No. 19 (Stanley and Rose Hill) behind his running mates Jayen Cuttaree and Jean Claude de L'Estrac.
On 18 August 1993, Jugnauth dismissed Bérenger and all Members of the MMM from the government and formed a new majority with the other parties.
Opposition and alliance with Ramgoolam (1994–1997)