Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Sarah Jane Lebrasse
Published on 2024-04-03 08:00:11
The Riverwalk meeting scheduled for today and described as crucial between the leader of the Labour Party, Navin Ramgoolam, of the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), Paul Bérenger, and the Mauritian Social Democratic Party (PMSD), Xavier-Luc Duval, was visibly put on hold last night until further notice.
The trio was supposed to meet this afternoon to decide on the next political steps to seal the fate of the PTR-MMM-PMSD alliance for the upcoming general elections. As of last night, there were vague indications regarding this. The pressure has increased since the announcement of the 35-17-8 formula for the distribution of tickets by the Labour leader, along with the latest demands from the PMSD, including the appointment of Xavier-Luc Duval as president of the republic in the event of electoral victory for this alliance.
During his post-PMQ press conference at his office yesterday, the opposition leader stated that “PMSD is not used to discussing ongoing negotiations in public” and did not want to comment further on the relationships between the three parties, stating that discussions will be held privately among the leaders.
He did, however, express satisfaction with the outcome of the PMQ, stating that the power had become a “Government by PMQ,” meaning that things were moving based on this parliamentary exercise. He added that the issue of lands taken over by the State from the Mauritius Tamil Cultural Centre and the Indo-Mauritian Catholic Association had progressed following his first PMQ on the subject in May 2023. “On April 2, 2024, the government said it will build the facilities on their land. The banana file was sleeping in Obeegadoo’s drawer,” he implied.
On the other hand, after the initial agitation within the opposition alliance, the discussions took a different turn with XLD’s demands, including the presidency and a ninth ticket for the PMSD. Paul Bérenger found himself in a delicate situation, with MMM’s top brass members ambivalent about the deal with the Labour Party.
In the meantime, there were exchanges of pleasantries between the leader of the blues, Adrien Duval, and the Prime Minister and leader of the Mauritian Socialist Militant Movement (MSM), Pravind Jugnauth, last Saturday near the Caudan tunnel, next to Rogers House, to pay tribute to the victims of the deadly floods of March 2013.
Paul Bérenger was absent from Parliament yesterday, with sources close to the leader of the mauves suggesting that he had stepped back to decide on the political steps to take regarding the summit meeting between him, Navin Ramgoolam, and XLD scheduled for this afternoon.
The absence of the MMM leader from the House indeed reflected his annoyance with the weekend’s developments. The body language of the opposition leader and the political chemistry between the PMSD and the MSM were closely observed in the House yesterday.
However, Xavier-Luc Duval did not hold back politically in his attacks on the Deputy Prime Minister, Steven Obeegadoo. The spotlight is now on the three political leaders and the contacts that will be made between them during the day.
Political developments to follow…
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
