The history of the Labor Party is closely linked to the political emancipation of the Mauritian population.
From its formation in 1936, the Labor Party placed itself on the side of the oppressed. In 1938, the Party brought together more than 30,000 workers for a show of force.
The second fight of the Labor Party was for universal suffrage. The 1885 constitution gave the right to vote to oligarchs and wealthy people. The right to vote was restricted to 4,061 voters including 295 of Asian origin out of a population of 359,419 inhabitants.
In 1948, a new constitution was adopted and women gained the right to vote. The criteria for voters were revised and the number of voters rose to more than 70,000.
The general elections of 1948 saw the victory of the Labor Party under the leadership of Guy Rozemont. Of the 19 elected, 11 were Indo-Mauritians, but Governor Donald Mackenzie-Kennedy appointed 12 conservatives to the Council in order to restore the domination of the oligarchs.
In the 1953 elections, the PTR elected 13 members against 2 for the Ralliement Mauricien and 4 Independents. Governor Hillary Blood also appointed 12 members to the Council in order to restore oligarch supremacy.
In the 1963 elections the results were as follows:
- Out of 40 seats,
- Labor Party 19 seats
- PMSD 8 seats
- IFB 7 seats
- CAM 4 seats
- Independents 2 seats
The 1967 elections saw the country gain independence with the following results:
- Independence Party 39 seats
- PMSD 23 seats
On March 12, 1968, the country gained independence during a grandiose ceremony at the Champ de Mars.
