MMM: The Option of a New Party Gains Ground within the Bérenger Movement
As the MMM delegate assembly approaches on Saturday, April 11, the prospect of a political reshaping around Paul Bérenger becomes clearer, set against the backdrop of a new party's creation.
The upcoming assembly of the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), scheduled for April 11, appears to be a decisive turning point in the internal crisis currently shaking the party. Delegates will have to vote on whether to keep the MMM in the government. In preparation for this decision, the political bureau met on Monday with a group of fifteen MPs who favor staying in the government, dedicating much of their work to organizing this consultation. They have called on their members to mobilize grassroots support in each constituency to gather as many backers as possible.
The movement led by Paul Bérenger, who remains the leader of the MMM, does not plan to participate in the delegate assembly. Paul Bérenger vigorously contests the list of participants, labeling it a "pseudo-list" and "fake."
During a press conference on Saturday, he stated, "In such a situation, of course, we will not be present," thus formally breaking from the ongoing internal process.
Despite these disputes, legal action to invalidate this list does not seem to be on the table at this stage. This judicial restraint contrasts with the various options Paul Bérenger mentioned during the militant gathering on March 28 at the Plaza. Among these were the possibility of remaining in the party as a minority faction, an attempt to overturn the majority during the delegate assembly, a legal battle to retain the party's attributes, and ultimately the creation of a new political formation.
Notable Strategic Break
According to available information, it is now the latter option that seems to be prevailing within the Bérenger movement. Internal discussions would indeed favor the establishment of a new party, sidelining any attempt to reclaim the name, emblem, or colors of the MMM. Such a direction would mark a significant strategic break, avoiding a direct confrontation over symbolic and legal grounds. This situation harks back to the 1993 crisis, which led to the creation of the Mauritian Militant Renewal (RMM). At that time, Paul Bérenger, a minority in the political bureau but majority in the central committee, contested a divergent political line, particularly regarding alliances. Two legal actions were then introduced before Judge Vinod Boolell, resulting in a favorable decision for Paul Bérenger in 1994 based on the party's internal rules.
However, major differences distinguish the two episodes. In 1993, the stakes revolved around control of the MMM's institutions and attributes, in a context where Paul Bérenger maintained significant support within the central committee. Today, the dynamics seem reversed, with a structured majority within the party and dissent that, rather than contesting legally, appears to be moving towards external reshaping.
At this stage, the creation of a new party thus seems to be the most likely outcome for the Bérenger movement. If this option materializes, it would open a new political chapter, redefining balances within both the opposition and the majority.
