Mauritius President, Rajkeswur Purryag

Mauritius is to hold general elections on December 10, the Indian Ocean island’s presidency announced Friday, a month after dissolving parliament.

The dissolution followed an election agreement between the Labour Party of Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam and the key opposition Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM) party.

The agreement sets down a deal that should they win, they will submit a bill to amend the constitution to provide for the direct election of the president.

Ramgoolam is expected to want to run for president — a position currently elected by parliament.

The other key bloc is a newly formed coalition, the Alliance Lepep, led by former president Anerood Jugnauth.