Africa-Press – Mauritius. The formula to find must establish the relationship between two strong personalities, Ramgoolam and Berenger, and two major parties with different bases, but also, and much more deeply, protect us from conflicts at the top of the State, and from institutional instability.
permed Let’s face it: the lines had moved last weekend, regardless of Bérenger’s turnaround just two hours after his joint press conference with the leader of the government and the Labor Party, where everything was on track and an alliance PTr-MMM policy at your fingertips.
This allian in gestation goes beyond questions of alchemy or agreement on the terms of a “good electoral reform”, which nevertheless remains the determining basis.
In this more complex part of the negotiations which occupied the “lovebirds” and which seems close to its outcome, Bérenger’s unexpected turnaround last Saturday was widely perceived as a tactical stiffening, following the resignation of Xavier Duval from the government.
As well as the veiled threat of a motion of censure which would have put a definitive end to the koz-koze without guaranteeing any convincing result for an MMM whose bases are still in “wait and see” mode.
Like the vast majority of the population, by the way. It is natural that tactical calculations and the perception of power relations condition the analyzes, positions and discussions that any political leader conducts.
So, when Bérenger conducts his negotiations publicly, with the help of sometimes confusing press conferences, at the risk of being tiresome, it is not a matter of culture but a tactical choice. We can hardly, in the MMM as in the population, accuse him of proceeding “on the sly”.
But there are reasons to believe that we are approaching a moment of political and societal maturity, a historic turning point when these considerations alone, important as they are, could give way to the best interests of the country in the face of the challenges of the future.
With globalization, the continuing financial crisis, new environmental challenges, the scarcity of fossil resources and the difficulties in certain internal sectors of the country, it is no longer a question of presenting a simple formula.
Besides the economy in general, there are sectors that have “underperformed”, some are suffering and others are in need of a new lease of life and new ideas.
So what are the few achievements of this famous joint press conference so friendly and convergent on the major issues? Finally, does it herald a climate more worthy of politics, its real issues and its letters of nobility?
No more posturing, slogans, accusations, threats, announcements of settling of scores, more conducive to the soapboxes of old times? The country can only wish it and hope is allowed.
Same story with the PMSD, which after fifteen years of understanding withdrew from the ruling Alliance quietly and without acrimony, probably waiting to learn more about the development of the ongoing discussions.
Pravind Jugnauth, in his interview on Tuesday (Le Défi Quotidien), also seems to show a new restraint. Two major forces in the political landscape could not continue to revile each other, to maintain an artificial climate of tension, while Mr.
Bérenger admits that the consensus with the Labor Party reigns over the essential, including a common program and that, for weeks, directly or by proxy, the two personalities, while taking into account their respective ambitions, study together the means of moving the country towards other horizons.
Such a historic alignment between two leaders – two ambitions for a common destiny of the country despite two electorates, two different loyalties, two distinct rear bases, two parties with histories marked by battles – is neither simple nor devoid of roughness in this small island so complex to manage.
Between avowed desire, alchemy of alcove, understanding on major axes, and between achievable partnership and the quest for the right balance, there is still a long way to go.
Everyone should have matured and learned from their previous experiences. Everyone should agree to put a little water in their wine, in their claims. It is understood that there is agreement on electoral reform to be submitted to the voters and the possible mini-constitutional amendment in the meantime.
No reform being ideal, we hardly like the idea of these future MPs without constituency ties, let alone those appointed by political leaders after the elections.
But we can congratulate ourselves that the new situation will allow better female representation and that there will be no more than 60-0 and these outrageously unbalanced Assemblies from which 25-35% of the population may feel excluded.
Some are concerned about the threshold for access to Proportional Representation; Truth be told, this is just the widening of the corrective door of the community-based “Best Loser”. Nothing prevents any party or person from running in one or more of the country’s twenty-one constituencies and being directly elected there.
It would be a rather strange admission of the MSM or the PMSD to give the impression that after decades in power for thirty years, if not at the helm of the country, at least of the major ministries, they would be quite incapable of getting elected tomorrow.
only one deputy in a given constituency. The MSM was assigned six major ministries in 2010, including that of Finance; Xavier Duval, Social Integration and Finance for three years.
These are opportunities, extraordinary political springboards. What were they used for? However, the last discussions during the past week towards an agreement could only concern the adequate resolution of two aspects:
(a) terms acceptable to the two leaders of an emerging PTr-MMM alliance; it concerns the upcoming elections and legislature, the immediate horizon; it is never easy to reconcile nominations, distribution, ambitions and egos, great balances, ministerial in a spirit of fairness, while responding to possible fears on both sides;
(b) the long-term horizon because it is a question, with a 2nd Republic, of not being mistaken in the terms of operation of a new system of governance which would replace the Westminster model. This one is an arch-known model whose executive stability is appreciated by many.
But many are those who have often decried the enormity of the powers concentrated in the hands of the PM, become, rightly or wrongly, in the proximity, the insularity and the complex economic and sociological structure of the country, the ultimate point of pressure and ceaseless arbitrations, where all contradictions converge, all the “lobbyists”, all the pressure groups, all the courtiers of all colors.
In the private sector, this affects the oligarchs, other large groups as well as the multitude of small bosses and aspiring entrepreneurs, traders like the “big bazaar” of street vendors. Ramgoolam and Bérenger know something about it.
All the better basically, in an evolution towards a consociative democracy (White Paper), if these arbitrations are shared in a better spirit of dialogue and consensus and reduce the constant pressure on the Treasury Building.
It is still necessary to know in the horizon of a lasting reform, which assumes the general responsibility for government policy, defines and controls the guidelines between the Presidency and a Prime Minister responsible for the execution without however being a simple performing? Not easy!
The two parties, the press, observers and the entire population are aware of this: the formula to be found must establish the relationship between two strong personalities, Ramgoolam and Bérenger, and two major parties with different bases, but also, and much more deeply, to protect ourselves from conflicts at the top of the state, from permanent institutional instability.
The political “equilibrists” and the specialists in constitutional questions are in the final maneuvers, we are told. By the time this print is published, this formula will no doubt have been finalized and we will have a better idea of what is being offered to future generations in terms of the political governance of the country.
And, that in the end, it will be, out of respect for democracy, for the population to vote on a double-triggered offer: PTr-MMM alliance under the rule of Navin Ramgoolam as designated PM, carrying electoral reform in their luggage. and a 2nd Republic to come. But all this is not settled yet . ..
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