Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Reform Party held a press conference on Saturday, September 13, to discuss the electoral reform proposed earlier this week by Acting Prime Minister Paul Bérenger, who introduced two reform options. The Reform Party expressed support for electoral reform but firmly opposed increasing the number of parliamentary seats.
Ryad Subratty, the party’s Secretary General, started by noting that Paul Bérenger was alone at his press conference and that, so far, the Reform Party had not heard the views of other alliance members on his proposals. Nevertheless, they wanted to state their position. Subratty summarized Bérenger’s two proposals: either 60 members elected by the people through the First-Past-the-Post system plus 20 deputies based on proportional representation, or 60 candidates elected from 20 constituencies and Rodrigues, plus 20 deputies proportionally selected, along with four deputies based on the 1972 census, which would increase the parliament to more than 80 members.
Subratty explained that the Reform Party agrees with the idea of 20 proportional representation seats but insists on having two candidates elected per constituency, resulting in 40 deputies elected via First-Past-the-Post and 20 from the proportional list, keeping the parliament at 60 members. He strongly opposes any increase in the number of deputies.
Roshi Badhain, speaking next, highlighted that while the party supports proportional representation, it rejects adding more deputies to parliament. He criticized the notion of increasing deputies when pensions are being cut and retirement ages raised, emphasizing that Mauritius is a small country and cannot afford such a large parliament. Badhain reiterated the party’s stance for a 40-plus-20 deputy system, with two First-Past-the-Post candidates per constituency and 20 proportional list seats.
Additionally, the Reform Party leader proposed limiting prime ministers to two terms and suggested that the President of the Republic should be elected directly by the people. He recommended that political parties nominate presidential candidates, and a presidential option be included on the general election ballot for the public to choose their President.
For reference, Paul Bérenger announced that a Cabinet Paper will be presented for detailed debate and consultations in both Mauritius and Rodrigues.
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