Electoral Reform, Presidency, Appointments: Paul Bérenger Voices His Reservations

Paul Bérenger, leader of the Militant Socialist Movement (FMP), stated that electoral reform will not be part of the tasks assigned to the upcoming Constitutional Review Commission. He made this declaration during the discussions on the Constitutional Review Commission Bill at the National Assembly on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

Referring to the Cabinet's decision from April 24 and the announcement made by the Prime Minister's Office on the same day, Bérenger emphasized that electoral reform is excluded from the Commission’s terms of reference.

"The terms of reference for the constitutional commission do not include electoral reform, which is therefore not part of the constitutional commission we are establishing," he stated.

He explained that the Constitutional Commission will solely look at recommendations aimed at enhancing the electoral process and strengthening the independence and powers of the Electoral Commission and the Electoral Commissioner.

"The constitutional commission will only address recommendations aimed at improving the electoral process," he highlighted.

For Bérenger, a genuine electoral reform would entail several significant changes, including the introduction of a degree of proportional representation, the removal of the requirement for candidates to declare their community, and ensuring adequate female representation in Parliament.

However, he expressed skepticism about the implementation of such a reform under the current government.

"If it happens under the current government, which I believe is very unlikely," he asserted.

Last-Minute Amendment

Bérenger also revisited a last-minute amendment to the terms of reference for the Constitutional Commission proposing that the President of the Republic be elected by an electoral college rather than by Parliament.

According to him, this proposal has led to misunderstandings.

"This late amendment has created confusion," he remarked.

The FMP leader clarified that the proposal does not aim at establishing a presidential election by direct universal suffrage.

"We are not talking about a president elected by universal suffrage, like in France," he insisted.

Bérenger explained that the proposed model is more akin to that of India, where the president is elected by an electoral college composed of the national Parliament and regional assemblies. In Mauritius, such a system could include both Parliament and regional elected representatives.

Concerns Over Key Appointments

The FMP leader also expressed concerns regarding the establishment of a Senior Officials Appointment Committee tasked with making recommendations to the government for appointing heads of major public institutions.

"A Senior Officials Appointment Committee, which would only make recommendations to the government, wouldn’t change much," he assessed.

Bérenger mentioned that he had proposed a different formula inspired by the Seychellois model. He cited the example of the Constitutional Appointment Authority, a body composed of five members, two appointed by the President of the Republic, two by the Leader of the Opposition, and a fifth member chosen by consensus.

According to him, this authority participates in selecting senior officials to lead several strategic institutions, including the Electoral Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Auditor General's office, and the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation.

A Call for Transparency

In conclusion, the FMP leader advocated for the publication of the findings of the future Constitutional Commission, "calling on the government to commit, here and now, to make public the report and recommendations of the Constitutional Commission we are establishing."

For Bérenger, publishing the final report and recommendations of the Commission would serve as an essential guarantee of transparency in an exercise aimed at shaping the evolution of the country’s institutions.