Alliance for Change: MMM's Return to Opposition Not Recommended for Now

Alliance for Change: A return of the MMM to the opposition is not recommended at this time. Following the 'last chance meeting' between Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and Paul Bérenger held on Saturday, the central committee of the MMM will make a decision on Monday. The MMM might leave the Cabinet to join the backbenches.

"For now, a return of the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) to the opposition is not on the agenda," Paul Bérenger confided to close associates. The Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the MMM has reiterated this several times during his meetings, including in front of members of his political bureau and central committee: a break in the Alliance for Change is not desired.

Sources close to the government’s number two indicate a strong possibility that Paul Bérenger might withdraw from the Cabinet to sit on the backbench as a simple MP.

For the MMM, a decision will be made on Monday by the central committee, the highest authority of the party. One of the serious options that could be considered is for the MMM's ministers and junior ministers to also leave the Cabinet and sit on the backbenches of the government majority.

Currently, the MMM has eight ministers out of 25 and three junior ministers out of 10. Six other elected members are backbenchers.

The decision will be left to the central committee regarding the future of the MMM. However, at 5 PM on Saturday, just an hour before the 'last chance meeting' between Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam and Paul Bérenger, the latter's entourage stated that there was "little chance of reversing the decision to leave the Deputy Prime Minister position."

Decisive Friday

While things seemed to be improving in recent days, Friday proved to be decisive. Two factors rekindled the anger of the Deputy Prime Minister. The first was the reappointment of Rampersad Sooroojebally as Police Commissioner for another year, a decision Paul Bérenger does not particularly appreciate.

Although the topic of Rampersad Sooroojebally was raised at the Cabinet meeting on Friday, it appears that at no point did Navin Ramgoolam inform the Cabinet that he had already renewed the police chief's contract.

While the Cabinet meeting proceeded satisfactorily and amicably, it was only a few hours later that Paul Bérenger learned from the press about the renewal of Rampersad Sooroojebally's contract as police commissioner.

Within the MMM leadership, it is stated that the fact Paul Bérenger was informed only after this reappointment, while Navin Ramgoolam said nothing regarding Rampersad Sooroojebally during the Cabinet meeting, is what caused the irritation.

The second issue that fueled the anger of the government’s number two is that electoral reform was not mentioned in the Cabinet communiqué, despite it having been extensively discussed. Electoral reform is one of the reasons why Navin Ramgoolam was able to prevent Paul Bérenger from leaving a week earlier. Commitments had been made by the government chief on this matter. The omission of this topic in Friday’s statement was perceived as a second affront on the same day by Paul Bérenger.

On the Labour Party side, Navin Ramgoolam has made it clear to his associates that he has his prerogatives as Prime Minister and cannot let others dictate his choices. He is not likely to yield regarding Rampersad Sooroojebally’s reappointment. Another reason given for this choice is that the Prime Minister lacks options. The issue boils down to one question: replacing Sooroojebally, yes, but with whom?

It remains that electoral reform and the Police Commissioner are just two aspects of Paul Bérenger’s long list of grievances. He is reportedly dissatisfied with the performance of other political appointees, including Dev Jokhoo, the prison commissioner. He is also unhappy with certain actions of people close to the Prime Minister and has concerns about some aspects of the Chagos issue management. The slow progress on several files is another irritating factor, it is said from the MMM's side.

MMM Elected Officials and Their Responsibilities in Government
MMM Ministers:
Paul Bérenger (Deputy Prime Minister), Rajesh Bhagwan (Environment), Ajay Gunness (Public Infrastructure), Jyoti Jeetun (Financial Services), Deven Nagalingum (Sports), Reza Uteem (Labour), Arianne Navarre-Marie (Gender Equality), Aadil Ameer Meea (SMEs)
MMM Junior Ministers:
Joanna Bérenger (Environment), Karen Foo Kune-Bacha (Sports), Fawzi Allymun (Regional Administrations)
MMM MPs:
Veda Baloomoody (Deputy Speaker), Govinden Venkatasami, Tony Apollon, Ram Etwareea, Ludovic Caserne, Raveen Jugurnauth.

PM/DPM Meeting Saturday Evening
Bérenger: “A good meeting between old friends, but nothing changes politically”
The meeting, lasting about an hour, on Saturday evening at Navin Ramgoolam's home in Riverwalk, Vacoas, between the Prime Minister and his Deputy, Paul Bérenger, was described as positive. However, in reality, it remains status quo, with Paul Bérenger intending to resign from his position as the government’s number two. A second meeting may take place between the two leaders on Monday. The special MMM central committee meeting scheduled for 5 PM on Monday remains on the agenda.

"It was a very good meeting between old and good friends, but it changes nothing politically," Paul Bérenger stated after the meeting. "It will be a quiet Sunday and we’ll see on Monday. I have my central committee on Monday, and we’ll see then what is decided," he added. Paul Bérenger, however, insists it will be "very difficult" to make him "change his mind."

Various contentious issues were discussed during the meeting. Another topic was the death of Muzzamil Hussenbocus on Friday, November 7. He was struck by a car while riding his motorcycle in Camp Levieux, and the driver was provisionally charged with "involuntary manslaughter due to negligence" before being released on bail on Monday, November 10. This incident, where the 19-year-old driver tested positive for drugs, has been described as "upsetting." It is noted that Paul Bérenger visited the victim's family to express his heartfelt condolences.