What Paul Bérenger Criticizes About the Government

Since November, Paul Bérenger has been raising a series of grievances that have since formed a recurring theme, intensifying clearly in January and particularly in March of this year.

Tensions began internally before November, but public statements multiplied starting that month, culminating in his resignation on March 20, 2026.

November 15: Beginning of Major Disagreements

• Paul Bérenger, as Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the MMM, has privately expressed his disagreement about "certain decisions made" within the government and the Cabinet.
• He will repeatedly state that he does "not agree with what is happening within the government."
• Bérenger also criticizes certain appointments, including those of the police commissioner, prisons commissioner, and positions at Air Mauritius.
• Outcome: He backtracks after discussions with Navin Ramgoolam (two face-to-face meetings). No resignation. He takes a wait-and-see approach.

Mid-January
First notable public statement. Bérenger openly states that the Finance portfolio (held by Navin Ramgoolam) should be given to a full-time minister, and criticizes the functioning of the government, certain ministries, and state agencies (including Air Mauritius), as well as the influence of the “Club of Five” / “Gang of 5” (comprised of people close to Ramgoolam).

He asserts that "it is in the country’s interest for the Finance portfolio to be handed over to a minister other than the Prime Minister and that Reza Uteem would be ideal for this position.” He mentions serious dysfunctions and states he will not turn a blind eye.

Outcome: No resignation. He again takes a wait-and-see approach after discussions with the Prime Minister.

March 7 (Saturday - Press Conference)

• A vehement and direct critique of the Ministry of Tourism and Minister Richard Duval.
• He denounces arbitrary appointments and suspensions (e.g., the José Arunasalom case at the Mauritius Tourism Authority).
• He reiterates the accumulated disagreements since November and the absence of a full-time Finance Minister during a crisis.

March 16 (Monday - Press Conference after the MMM Political Bureau in Rose-Hill)

• Pivotal moment: Bérenger announces his decision to leave the government but hesitates (“I will see tomorrow”). He openly expresses all his accumulated grievances.
• He places the country above his position and the party. "If I have to choose between my position as Deputy Prime Minister and the country, I will choose my country. Even if I have to choose between my country and the MMM, I will choose my country," he declares.
• "We didn’t do all this for a good part of the things that the MSM was doing to be repeated. The Gang of 5 is shrinking now," he states.
• He indicates that he is considering resigning despite Ramgoolam's appeal.
• He announces that he will not be at Parliament the following day.
• However, the MMM is divided: the vast majority of Political Bureau members wish to remain in government after "20 years of suffering" in opposition.

March 18 (Wednesday - After the MMM Central Committee)

• Bérenger acknowledges that the vast majority of activists want to stay in government, but he insists on his fundamental disagreements.
• He maintains pressure without immediately resigning, leaving uncertainty about his future within the MMM.