Understanding political indecisiveness

The political fallout from the PMSD’s surprising decision to quit the Alliance Lepep government on Monday 19 December last is that the debate between the party led by Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval and the MSM has escalated, mainly on the Prosecution Commission Bill. 

The two leaders, namely Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval and Mr. Pravind Jugnauth, have been constantly using each and every possible opportunity to criticize each other. Both leaders have been trying to give their version of what happened prior to the presentation of the highly controversial Bill at the National Assembly, and its subsequent withdrawal following the resignation of the PMSD from the government.

WARNING SHOTS FIRED 

The latest warning shot was fired on Tuesday by none other than the leader of the MSM. Mr. Pravind Jugnauth. In reply to questions from the media, soon after he held a press conference at the Sun Trust, which nests the headquarters of the MSM, Mr. Jugnauth recalled that the former Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval had presided over the ministerial committee on the Prosecution Commission Bill and that he could have very well made suggestions for amendments. 

Regarding retroactivity of the proposed piece of legislation, the leader of the MSM stated that this is permitted by our existing legislations, except in some cases. He underlined that it was Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval himself who proposed that the retroactivity period be extended to 36 months. Mr. Pravind Jugnauth also explained that there was no hurriedness as such in presenting the Prosecution Commission Bill and that the government did not want to wait for March 2017, when the National assembly resumes. He also forcefully denied that initially, it was proposed that the Prime Minister would appoint the three members of the Prosecution Commission.

Mr. Pravind Jugnauth also brushed aside earlier remarks made by the leader of the Labour Party, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam to the effect that the main aim of the Bill was to prevent the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to appeal against the judgment of the Supreme Court in the MedPoint case at the level of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.     

But the leader of the MSM went a step further and revealed that Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval changed his initial position regarding the Prosecution Commission Bill only after he had a telephone conversation with the leader of the Labour Party, Dr. Navin Ramgoolam during the week-end preceding the resignation of the PMSD from the government. “The Prosecution Commission Bill is nothing but an excuse for the PMSD to quit the government”, said the leader of the MSM and current Minister of Finance.

“ The leader of the MMM seems to be extremely careful concerning its working rapport with the other political parties sitting in the opposition. Against all odds, Mr. Bérenger has congratulated the PMSD for quitting the government."

QUICK TO REACT TO COMMENTS 

The leader of the PMSD Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval was quick to react to the comments made by Mr. Pravind Jugnauth. “It’s all but a tissue of lies. That much I can say. If a proof was required that those in government are paranoiac, that’s a good one. I have never met Dr Navin Ramgoolam on this matter, whatever the leader of the MSM is saying.  I will come back on the facts regarding this issue once the New Year festivities are over. I will relate everything and depict how they are trying to hide the truth”, said Mr. Duval in a statement to the media.

Interestingly enough, in a statement to Defi Quotidien published on Thursday 29 December,2016, Mr. Duval explained that he was ironic when he suggested that the retroactivity of the Prosecution Commission Bill be extended to thirty-six months.  

At a press conference held on Thursday morning, Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval has denied having entertained any contact with the former Prime Minister Dr. Navin Ramgoolam. He has vowed on his honour that he did in no way maintain any relation with Dr. Ramgoolam and that the latter phoned him only once after he left the Labour/PMSD government in June 2014. According to Mr. Duval, he met with Dr. Ramgoolam only twice and that also at wedding ceremonies of common friends’ children. He also revealed that he had a serious dispute with the Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth over the issue of the Prosecution Commission Bill.   

It is obvious that this debate on the Prosecution Commission Bill and the real reasons that motivated the PMSD to quit the government is yet to be over, as each protagonist is bound to hit back with different versions of the story. 

FISHING FOR A NEW THREE-QUARTER MAJORITY 

Another highlight of the press conference of Mr. Jugnauth on Tuesday is that he told the media that the government will come back with the Prosecution Commission Bill, once it ensures a three-quarter majority. This affirmation prompted other very legitimate questions. Have discussions been held with other political parties in the opposition, more specifically the MMM? Mr. Jugnauth told the press that no such discussions have been held but that he is opened to suggestions from the opposition, including the MMM.

If the leader of the MSM is thinking that the MMM can be lured away again, he might be wrong, especially if we go by what the leader of the MMM Mr. Paul Bérenger has stated at the annual dinner of the party. He made it clear that there  exists too much difference between the two parties for a new “rapprochement” (coming together). 

On the other hand, he was very critical of the Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth, adding that the latter has sensed trouble in placing his son Mr. Pravind Jugnauth at the head of the government and that he would cling to power as long as his health allows him to do so. In clear terms, the MMM is not ready to join the government as there are too many issues on which they disagree fundamentally. 

The leader of the MMM seems to be extremely careful concerning its working rapport with the other political parties sitting in the opposition. Against all odds, Mr. Bérenger has congratulated the PMSD for quitting the government. He explained that now that the government no longer holds a three-quarter majority at the National Assembly, there is no risk that it can come forward again with the Prosecution Commission Bill. “It is good that the end of 2016 is marked by the end of the three-quarter majority”, said Mr. Paul Bérenger. He warned that the government is on a fishing expedition for turn-coats in view of finding again its lost three-quarter majority.    

In the meantime, Mrs. Marie Claire Monty, a PMSD MP is still deeply plunged in her thinking. The grapevine has it that she has been proposed the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare. Mr. Ramalingum Maistry, chairman of the Mauritius Ports Authority was quicker in taking a decision. He chose to resign as president of the PMSD, arguing that he failed to understand why the PMSD had suddenly left the government! The PMSD elected Mr. Robert Pallamy as its new president on Wednesday.  

Another striking feature as this year comes to an end is the findings of two opinion polls conducted by DCDM Research and Synthèses –LSL. The first one reveals, inter alia, that Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval maintains his position as the most appreciated political personality, coming well ahead of the current Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth and that the opposition parties are stronger than the MSM/ ML government. The Synthèses-LSL opinion poll suggests that out of the 1005 persons interviewed, 37% are indecisive regarding where to cast their votes if general elections were held in a few days. What does this mean? That voters no longer trust the so-called traditional political parties? Or are they on the look-out for new political parties with new leaders and new visions? Or are voters simply disillusioned about how politics can effectively change their lives?