Political Chessboard: Opposition Gears Up, Police Objects, and MSM Targets Youths

As the winter break and vacations roll on, the political scene in Mauritius is heating up on all fronts. The Labour-MMM-PMSD opposition alliance is determined to capitalise on the success of the Mare D’Albert rally.

However, the police have objected to the upcoming political gathering of the Labour-MMM-PMSD alliance at Place Taxi in Vacoas on August 18, citing concerns about the expected crowd size. The Metro Express Ltd has, for its part, also reportedly rejected the proposal for a second venue, also in Vacoas.

Meanwhile, PM Pravind Jugnauth is gearing up to target the youth electorate, aged 18 to 40, with a congress scheduled for Saturday.

The MSM reportedly aims to appeal to this demographic while still using the promise of a pension increase to Rs 13,500 to gain support from older voters. Despite the opposition’s recent activities, the MSM is focusing on strengthening its regional committees and consolidating its base.

While the political landscape remains tense, the MSM is awaiting the Privy Council’s decision on the electoral petition of N°8 (Quartier-Militaire/Moka), hoping for a political comeback if the verdict is favourable.

However, several challenges remain for the government, including the legal charges against Yogida Sawmynaden and the political implications of the murder of Soopramanien Kistnen. Moreover, internal political dynamics and the potential actions of former ally Ivan Collendavelloo may add further complexity to the political scenario.

Source: Le Mauricien