Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Sarah Jane Lebrasse
Published on 2024-04-19 08:00:11
The resigners of the PMSD, including MPs Kushal Lobine and Richard Duval, who have decided to join the PTR/MMM, launched their new party, Nouveaux Démocrates, at a press conference yesterday.
Explaining the significance of the chosen name, the former PMSD spokesperson indicated that the country is going through “difficult times, not to mention that democracy is taking a serious hit, there is an urgency, after 56 years of independence, to review the fundamental bases of our society.” For his part, Richard Duval, co-leader of the party, supported that “the mission of the latter is to free the country from this autocratic government.” He stressed that this is a grassroots party for the poorest.
“The democratic values of a country are extremely important for a better tomorrow. After 56 years of independence, there is an urgency to review the fundamental bases of our society, and this involves the Constitution. There are constitutional amendments to be made. But we have limitations. A three-quarters majority is needed in Parliament,” said Kushal Lobine. He added that the logo of Nouveaux Démocrates represents a democracy tree rooted “in mama later,” which paves the way for the freedom of citizens. “Today, we see a drift in these freedoms. As you raise your voice, you risk and represent,” he said, promising that the party will be extremely democratic.
The battle that the resigners were waging in the PMSD, he continued, is the same one they will continue. “For us, it’s the country above all!” He expressed the party’s willingness to improve regional democracy by making municipal and village elections mandatory every five years, as well as its commitment to fight for ecology. Richard Duval mentioned that he thought of his father in the morning regarding his fight for the PMSD. “It was my dad’s party, which I respected, but also a party where I made my political career,” he said. He, however, said he felt “obliged” to create a new party to “free the country from this autocratic government.” He added, “We have a government that is dominating, squandering, and pilfering the state.” He pointed out the re-registration of SIM cards. “We cannot allow intrusion into our private lives like this,” he protested.
Regarding the issue of the loss of purchasing power for households, he said he hears “the cries of suffering of the common people,” before telling them: “they can find themselves in this grassroots party, a party that will look after the people at the bottom. Every person should be able to eat their fill, the middle class should stop getting poorer, and institutions should regain their nobility. When Navin Ramgoolam was there, he never interfered with the institutions. We will not let any community fall.” Richard Duval maintained that “if you are not sincere, don’t do politics!” He called on former “orphaned Joes” to join the party.
Véronique Leu clarified that her resignation is a personal decision, and she did not want to influence her friends. “We have our convictions, our fight, which is now democracy, equality, and meritocracy,” she said.
Varen Andee, on the other hand, spoke of a “new hope emerging on the political scene.”
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
