Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Sarah Jane Lebrasse
Published on 2024-04-19 12:00:04
The violent exchanges within the hemicycle during Tuesday’s Question Time session continued in the corridors of the National Assembly during the lunch break on Tuesday, outside the view of Parliament TV cameras. Eyewitnesses to this episode of parliamentary session, part of the Political Mad Max series, reconstruct the sequence of events for Le Mauricien, during which a Parliament staff member was caught off guard and thrust into the forefront of this political reckoning approaching the upcoming general elections.
During Shakeel Mohamed’s baptism of fire as the leader of the opposition on Tuesday, three opposition parliamentarians were expelled before the lunch break. Among them, Eshan Juman, who left calmly. However, violent exchanges occurred between MMM MPs Paul Bérenger and Rajesh Bhagwan and the Speaker, with the escalation of heated exchanges punctuated with expressions heard for the first time within the hemicycle, even entering the Hansard (see excerpts below).
The acting Sergeant-at-Arms, filling in following the recent death of the incumbent, was verbally pushed to immediately escort Paul Bérenger and Rajesh Bhagwan out of the Chamber, who had just been Named by the Speaker. Paul Bérenger was the first to leave the view of cameras escorted by police officers. In the corridors, Joanna Bérenger joined him. Behind them, the shouts could still be heard. Rajesh Bhagwan, escorted by Sergeant-at-Arms, left the hemicycle as the Speaker suspended the session.
Meanwhile, a Labour MP approached the Bérengers. “I let the Speaker leave before me,” said an opposition member, adding, “He asked me if I could have patience with such disorder. He laughed and went on his way.” In the Parliament corridors, words were thrown towards the Speaker. At one point, the name “Ali” was heard, some claiming to be very close to one of the key players being mentioned. From that moment, the atmosphere in the corridors of the National Assembly took a heated turn. Sooroojdev Phokeer advanced towards the Bérengers.
A Parliament staff member intervened, as did police, apprehending the risks of a physical altercation. The Speaker then called the Sergeant-at-Arms, who approached. “He grabbed the Sergeant-at-Arms and pushed him to have Paul Bérenger and Rajesh Bhagwan removed from the Parliament premises,” confirmed a witness. “He physically pushed the Sergeant-at-Arms in front of us!” stated another MP. “Police officers told me that the Speaker physically intervened with the Sergeant-at-Arms,” continued another MP, who heard the commotion a few meters away.
Subsequently, Joanna Bérenger confronted the Speaker about his actions. Paul Bérenger, on the other hand, insisted that the Sergeant-at-Arms stop being mistreated in the performance of his duties. “The officer seemed visibly confused by these actions,” said a MP present at the time. Pressure mounted for the expelled parliamentarians to leave the premises.
Paul Bérenger and Rajesh Bhagwan – later suspended for the next six sessions – were escorted out of the hemicycle. As they headed towards their vehicle, a police officer spoke to Rajesh Bhagwan. Out of fear of retaliation, he asked him to leave as quickly as possible.
“The Speaker has chosen”
Prior to Tuesday’s parliamentary proceedings, the Speaker summoned the new leader of the opposition to his office. Shakeel Mohamed went with the new opposition Whip, Patrick Assirvaden (PTr), and Adil Ameer Meea (MMM). Also present was the interim Clerk of the National Assembly, Urmeelah Ramchurn. The agenda included Seating Arrangements within the hemicycle, with the reconfiguration of the parliamentary opposition.
Earlier in the week, roles within their ranks had been redistributed after Xavier-Luc Duval’s resignation as the leader of the opposition on Monday, following his party’s (PMSD) departure from the alliance with PTr and MMM the day before. Consequently, seats were to be reallocated within the hemicycle.
In this regard, the Speaker has a decisive voice. It is customary for him to allocate a designated space to parties or alliances. It then falls to the members and the leader of the opposition to choose the specific seats for each of them. A parliamentary tradition has thus persisted for decades. However, this tradition was not respected. “The Speaker chose who he wanted to include on the Front Bench of the opposition and who to hide,” explained Shakeel Mohamed, indicating that everything was imposed unilaterally.
Shakeel Mohamed protested, citing the Standing Orders and Erskine May, the bible of parliamentary procedures. The Speaker stood firm. The leader of the opposition protested against underrepresentation on the Front Bench, as well as the absence of women, including Stéphanie Anquetil, a key figure of the PTr. “The Speaker told me to leave his office and not contest his decision,” said Shakeel Mohamed. “Patrick (Assirvaden) told him he was devious, deciding on this arrangement in such a communal manner,” he added about an “un-Honourable” parliamentary session that will remain in the annals.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
