It is second in the order of precedence just after the president and enjoys relative importance in the public as the officeholder is usually the leader of the party/alliance that wins an election.

The longest serving prime minister is Anerood Jugnauth, who held the office of prime minister for about 19 years; if Navin Ramgoolam stays in office for a complete term, he will overtake Anerood Jugnauth.

During the British Mauritius period, it was the chief minister who was the head of government, executive powers was vested by the governor, representative of the monarch.

The only chief minister that the country had known was Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, from 26 September 1961 to 12 March 1968.

SAJ also won the 1991 general election and remained the prime minister of Mauritius.

On 12 March 1992, Mauritius became a republic, with a new constitution in 1992, the terms of the general elections were regulated to five years.

After the 1995 general election, Dr Navin Ramgoolam became Prime Minister of Mauritius for the first time.

According to the third Schedule of the Constitution of Mauritius, an oath under this section shall be administered by the Prime Minister.