Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Johanne Prosper
Published on 2024-03-31 13:00:48
The suspension of the PMO’s Lakwizinn to the negotiations of the PMSD within the opposition alliance with a summit meeting of leaders, Ramgoolam-Bérenger-Duval, on Wednesday at Riverwalk.
The presidency of the Republic is now involved in the pre-election maneuvers, with Xavier-Luc Duval eyeing the State House and once again, the “koze” of Leela Dookun-Lutchoomun succeeding Pradeep Roopun.
The publication of the Writ for the partial at N° 10, shifting the schedule of deadlines for the general elections, expected almost immediately after Labor Day.
With D-31 for a crucial first appointment on the calendar leading to the next general elections, the Prime Minister and leader of the MSM are considering a third consecutive term at the helm of the Government House, while the opposition alliance PTr-MMM-PMSD asserts that “Sanzan pe vini! Pena bare!” Whether it’s from the perspective of the PMO’s Lakwizinn or within the opposition ranks, the shared common point is that the Labor Day mobilization must not be missed. It will turn into a fierce battle of crowds with no compromise, capable of shaping and determining the outcome of the upcoming popular consultations. The revocation of Vikram Hurdoyal as Minister of Agro-Industry by the Prime Minister and his resignation as a member of the National Assembly, with his letter handed to the Speaker’s Office on Tuesday, February 13, means that Pravind Jugnauth will have lost control of the schedule for the general elections against his will. He is now required to adhere to criteria and obligations arising from the provisions of the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act for the holding of a partial that once again proves to be a political fiction.
Almost immediately after the political gatherings of May 1st, the publication of the Writ of the By-Election for the constituency of Montagne-Blanche/Grande-Rivière-Sud-Est (N°10) should be clear. This should happen no later than mid-May. “Within the opposition, we will not pay much attention or allow ourselves to be tempted to grant more than a disproportionate agreement to this Writ for the partial at N° 10. This partial election will not take place. It’s simply a reminder that Pravind Jugnauth no longer controls the electoral schedule and cannot arrogantly affirm that we are heading towards the end of his mandate with elections in 2025. This is already a win for democracy with the head of government having to submit to requirements beyond his control,” assert sources within the PTr-MMM-PMSD alliance.
However, since Navin Ramgoolam announced the established formula of 35-17-8 for the distribution of candidacies for the upcoming Nomination Day, agitation has increased within the ranks of the PMSD. Initially, the complaints and demands against the 95 Revisited formula came from the rank and file of the party. But towards the end of the week, the leader of the PMSD, and leader of the opposition, Xavier-Luc Duval, adopted the same stance with specific demands in line with those of his party.
Indeed, Xavier-Luc Duval has transmitted to the leader of the Labour Party, Navin Ramgoolam, a proposal to defuse the tension between alliance partners for the upcoming elections. The leader of the PMSD is willing to assume, in the event of victory in the upcoming elections, the functions of President of the Republic, but with nine tickets for his members instead of the eight on the table. And especially, a minister from the ranks of the PMSD on the front bench.
This proposal from the PMSD will be one of the main topics, if not the main one, at the agenda of the next meeting of the three main opposition leaders, Navin Ramgoolam, Paul Bérenger, and Xavier-Luc Duval, at Riverwalk on Wednesday afternoon. At this stage, none of the parties involved have wanted to speculate on the outcome of the PMSD’s proposal. “The possibility of Xavier-Luc Duval becoming President of the Republic was discussed at the initial stage of consultations to form an electoral alliance. However, the proposal did not gain traction because the main concerned party made it clear that he was not very enthusiastic about this possibility,” say authorized sources within the opposition alliance.
“The difficulty now is that contacts have already been established and another VVIP has already been approached to assume the functions of President of the Republic in a possible PTr-MMM-PMSD government. The PMSD’s new proposal for the presidency places the parliamentary opposition leaders in a delicate position of having to withdraw the offer already made. In any case, this proposal, coupled with the demand for a 9th ticket, as well as a PMSD member as a member of the Shadow Cabinet’s front bench, will be discussed at the meeting convened for Wednesday afternoon at the residence of the Labour leader in Riverwalk,” continue authorized sources, acknowledging a risky move by the PMSD.
“Weak link of the Front Bench”
The undeniable fact remains that the leader of the PMSD has been under intense pressure from the rising young wolves with increasing electoral appetite within his party in recent days for a revision of the electoral deal on the table for discussions within the opposition alliance. It is not surprising that the actions of Xavier-Luc Duval are under systematic monitoring by the Top Chefs of the Prime Minister’s Lakwizinn Office, including Gardien Kampman, who have already bet that “the political divorce within the opposition will be pronounced, as paradoxical as it may seem, even before the marriage is consummated, especially since it’s a three-way marriage.”
But before the summit meeting at Riverwalk on Wednesday, the opposition leader will have the opportunity to prove that there is indeed “a gap separating the PMSD from the MSM and that the demands put forward are the legitimate aspirations of PMSD members.” Thus, for the resumption of the National Assembly’s work, with the first Private Notice Question, Xavier-Luc Duval preferred to target a weak link in the government’s Front Bench, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Administrations, Anwar Husnoo, regarding compensation for the victims of the January 15 floods, other than owners of damaged luxury cars in the streets of the capital.
Some argue that the political dividends of a PNQ addressed to the Prime Minister and Leader of the House for this first one of an election year would have been more significant than the Husnoo option. Currently, within the opposition alliance, it is preferred to avoid engaging in excessive comments as another PNQ looms on the horizon for Tuesday, with the possibility of a political catch-up.
Since the PMSD has raised the issue of the State House on the sidelines of the conclusion of the PTr-MMM-PMSD alliance, in political circles at the Government House, there is a resurgence of the rumor, already mentioned at the end of last year, that Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun is being considered to succeed Pradeep Roopun as President of the Republic.
Other political circles speculate that this exchange between the Cabinet’s Office and the State House for the Prime Minister’s running mate in Quartier-Militaire/Moka (N°8) could take place before the imminent dissolution of the National Assembly. However, there is no confirmation of this possibility yet, with a last-minute rescue of Ivan Collendavelloo, leader of the Muvman Liberater, as a member of the Pravind Jugnauth government’s front bench.
Some agree that this will be a last-minute return of Ivan Collendavelloo to the government, as with political gatherings for Labor Day, the campaign for the upcoming legislative elections will have reached a decisive turning point. Certainly, the crowds in Vacoas and Port-Louis will have laid the foundation for the balance of power on the ground, with undecided voters still to be convinced until election day. In this regard, the concrete realization of the PTr-MMM-PMSD alliance is based on the slogan “Sanzman pe vini! Pena bare! Dimounn pe oule sazman!” Already, the tripartite committee to ensure coordination of ground mobilization has already met and developed a draft schedule of congresses on a regional level, starting at the end of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations.
On the other hand, the leader of the Labour Party, Navin Ramgoolam, is participating in training sessions for opposition agents, encompassing all three parties, regarding the procedures to follow and monitor on election day and during the vote counting.
Last leg
In this regard, yesterday afternoon, Navin Ramgoolam was in the Rivière-des-Anguilles/Souillac constituency (N°13). Before that, he joined opposition agents in the Pamplemousses/Triolet (N°5) and Montagne-Blanche/Grande-Rivière-Sud-Est (N°10) constituencies. He suggests that the training sessions, lasting an entire afternoon, will ensure better safeguards against any fraudulent intentions.
Meanwhile, the MMM announces a new meeting of its political bureau for Wednesday, after the meeting of the three leaders at Riverwalk, while the central committee will be convened on Saturday for an evaluation of the situation before going back to canvassing the electorate from mid-April for the not-to-be-missed May 1st rendezvous.
At the Government House, the most plausible scenario is that the dissolution of the National Assembly will occur just after the adoption of the fifth and final budget by Finance Minister Renganaden Padayachy, around early June. With the implementation of the revised Basic Retirement Pension scale increase starting in April, the government is preparing to announce another retirement-friendly measure in the budget.
Indeed, the Grand Argentier, who is preparing to contest electorally from Rivière-des-Anguilles/Souillac (N°13) to Quartier-Militaire/Moka (N°8), could announce a new favor, such as the Lump Sum retirement payment exempted from taxes. But before that, most likely towards the end of this week, the Minister of Labor, Soodesh Callichurn, with the assent of the Council of Ministers, will have to play the card of salary adjustments for those who earn a maximum of Rs 30,000 per month as part of the salary adjustment system from January 1st.
This measure mainly concerns employees with salaries up to a maximum of Rs 30,000 per month. This is suggested by well-informed sources, unless the government decides to adopt a more flexible approach in this regard. Additionally, the Top Chefs of the PMO Lakwizinn are systematically monitoring the social housing construction program under the auspices of the National Social Living Development Ltd to identify regions likely to host the first property title ceremonies and lotteries with the participation of beneficiaries. One of the most mentioned regions is Mare d’Albert. Indeed, as previously promised by Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, the first new units are expected to be delivered before the upcoming general elections, even if the planned 8,000 units have not been completed.
Regardless of the perspective, the election campaign, which is already in progress, will embark on a turning point during the first half of May, with the dual event of Labor Day and the publication of the Writ for the partial at N°10, the straight line leading to the vote before the end of the year…
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
