Reza Uteem to Paul Bérenger: "No one in the MMM has sidelined you... you need to tell us what you're planning"

On March 23rd, during a meeting at Ambrose, Rose-Hill, 22 out of the 37 members of the MMM political bureau were present. Two members sent their apologies, while 13 were absent. According to Reza Uteem, the party president, the majority of these 13 recently co-opted members do not have voting rights, but they have not resigned from the MMM.

After the BP meeting, Uteem informed the press that no resignation letters from leader Paul Bérenger or Joanna Bérenger, who stepped down as Junior Minister of the Environment that morning, had been received.

The next step will be the MMM central committee meeting scheduled for Saturday at the Beau-Bassin/Rose-Hill municipality, where "all regional representatives will have the opportunity to express their views on the situation," Uteem emphasized. During this central committee, a vote will determine whether the MMM should remain in government or leave. However, he reiterated that the majority supports staying in the government.

Uteem reminded everyone that the MMM's constitution is clear: "The MMM advocates the right to differing opinions, but party discipline must prevail," he stated. He clarified that the supreme body of the MMM is the assembly of delegates, but between meetings, the central committee takes precedence.

"For those who claim to uphold the values of activism, it starts with respecting the MMM's constitution," he added.

Reza Uteem assured that Paul Bérenger remains the leader of the MMM. "Neither I as president, nor Rajesh Bhagwan as secretary general, nor anyone in the MMM secretariat has received resignation letters from Paul Bérenger or Joanna Bérenger as members of the MMM," he stated. He also expected Paul Bérenger to attend the political bureau meeting on Monday.

When asked about his expectations, Uteem expressed a desire for Paul Bérenger to explain his position to the MMM bodies. "I appeal to him to return to the MMM. We haven’t sidelined you... no one in the MMM has sidelined you... you need to tell us what you're planning," said the party president.

Regarding the tone used by some MMM members during the press conference on Friday, Uteem mentioned that he was not in the country during the central committee meeting, but those present in Ébène referred to "insulting" remarks and "denigration."

"I can understand that certain comrades said things that went beyond their thoughts," he acknowledged. He also noted a moment of tension during the meeting in Ébène, mentioning a risk of physical confrontation, which he attributed to "emotional reactions."

In response to criticisms aimed at the "band of 16," Uteem stated, "In the central committee, there were more than 16 people. We need to update our information; it’s not 16, and I can tell you that when we count those from the regions represented by the central committee, we are talking about thousands of activists. It’s not a 'gang' of 16; it’s a 'gang' of thousands of activists who follow their party’s discipline."

After the political bureau, a crowd of MMM supporters gathered in the streets. Some were very disappointed and upset about the actions of these 16 MMM members, expressing their anger loudly. Others in the crowd could be heard chanting: "Long live Rajesh" (Note: Rajesh Bhagwan) or "Rajesh, our king."