The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Mauritius is the official council which advises the President of the Republic in the making of major decisions. It is led by the Prime Minister and a total of 23 ministers and the Attorney General, who is considered to be a cabinet member. The constitution of the Republic provides a cabinet under the leadership of the Prime Minister that must be appointed by the President after each general elections.
A cabinet minister must be a member of parliament whether directly or indirectly elected, with the exception of the Attorney General, who is a cabinet minister but votes in the parliament only if he or she is elected as an MP. The Attorney General, who is part of the cabinet, is appointed at the discretion of the President and on the advice of the Prime Minister.
Each Cabinet Minister taking office must take the oath of swearing allegiance to the President at The State House in front of the President, the first lady, Vice President, Prime Minister and other parliamentarians. Therefore, using the section 59 part 3 of the constitution, the President of the Republic of Mauritius, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoints the person to take office of Minister, taking effect from the swearing of the oath and the signature of the appointment letter.
The last swearing-in ceremony was held on 17 December 2014, where the President appointed a new cabinet composed of the Prime Minister and 24 ministers, including the Attorney General.
According to the Constitution of Mauritius, there shall be a Cabinet for Mauritius consisting of the Prime Minister and the other ministers. The functions of the Cabinet shall be to advise the President in the governing of Mauritius and the Cabinet shall be collectively responsible to the National Assembly for any advice given to the President by or under the general authority of the Cabinet and for all things done by or under the authority of any Minister in execution of his office.
Subsection (2) shall not apply in relation to the appointment and removal from office of Ministers and Junior Ministers, the assigning of responsibility to any Minister under section 62, or the authorisation of another Minister to perform the functions of the Prime Minister during absence or illness, the dissolution of Parliament.