Africa-Press – Mauritius. In the columns of Mauritius Times lately, correspondents have often expressed the wish to see men of integrity, working in parties with high ideals and working for the public good.
Unfortunately, this wishful thinking comes up against the reality of things. A political thinker is of the opinion that politics is not about the pursuit of the public good but about the exercise of power.
One engages in politics out of a desire for power. To be in politics, you have to be a member of a party. However, a party cannot exist without financial resources.
It needs to find donors who expect a return on their donations. However, as the saying goes, “money is the root of all evils”. Money is a source of corruption.
The worm is, therefore, in the fruit. Everyone wants candidates endowed with moral and intellectual qualities who would work for the entire Mauritian community. Unfortunately, in Mauritius, voting in elections is communal in nature.
In choosing candidates, consideration must be given to the community according to the voters and, in the case of the Hindu community, caste and cultural and linguistic groups, and all this takes place at the expense of choosing the best candidates.
The nature of politics means that there is a gap between our ideals and the reality of things. Mauritius Times correspondents are convinced that the MSM-ML will not return to power.
Shouldn’t we be cautious in our assessments? In December 2014, a Red/Purple tidal wave was predicted. It was just a resounding debacle! Can we trust the polls? A poll gave Xavier Duval as the most popular politician in Mauritius.
The members of the PMSD presented him as the future prime minister. Today, he is begging for an alliance. The media are the transmission belts of the feelings of the public, especially of their dissatisfaction.
But how reliable are they? Steven Obeegadoo has often been called upon for his opinion on various topics. He was very critical of the government. Today, he decided to support the MSM.
Often it is the same people who speak out and make people believe that discontent is more generalized. What is the weight of discontent? Only the popular vote can tell.
It is true that the Labor Party has made a comeback as evidenced by the May Day rally in Port Louis, that all dissatisfied people turn to this party. But one must always be wary of an adversary who has the apparatus of the State and its finances, and an impressive war chest.
Nothing is certain as to the outcome of the next elections. The only thing we are sure of is that the next Prime Minister will be either Pravind Jugnauth or Navin Ramgoolam
For More News And Analysis About Mauritius Follow Africa-Press
