Opposition Considers Lawsuit After New Speaker Election

Following the election of Adrien Duval as the new speaker of the National Assembly, opposition members held a press conference outside the assembly building yesterday, July 18.

The leader of the opposition, Arvin Boolell, accused the government of violating the “standing orders” and demanded a review of the allocation of seats and the lifting of suspensions imposed on opposition parliamentarians.

“This session is illegal, and this government has no legitimacy since they held this session,” Boolell said. “The Deputy Speaker should have presided over this session.”

Boolell claimed that the government had no valid reason to appoint a new speaker, and that they had used the illness of the previous speaker, Sooroojdev Phokeer, to make a political deal.

“They took advantage of his departure to form an alliance,” he said.

The opposition leader also lamented that all parliamentarians received a summons to be present, but were prevented from entering by police.

“Some police officers did not act correctly,” Boolell said.

He added that the National Assembly cannot function in this manner and that Zahid Nazurally should have exercised his right to preside over the session.

“I don’t know what his future will be, but today he failed,” Boolell said.

Paul Bérenger, leader of MMM, was categorical in his stance.

“Article 50 of the Constitution is clear: either the Speaker or, in his absence, the Deputy Speaker or a member of the Assembly must preside over the session. The Deputy Speaker was present; it was his duty to do so,” he said.

Bérenger described what happened as a “violation” of the Constitution and demanded that the suspension of three opposition members be lifted and that the arrangement of seats be reviewed.

He added that they would consult their lawyers and take legal action if necessary.

Khushal Lobine, a founder of the New Democrats (ND), called it a “sad day for democracy.”

“It’s an illegitimate, immoral, and illegal act by those who claim to defend democracy,” he said.

He added that Xavier-Luc Duval and Patrice Armance should no longer sit on the opposition benches.

“Their place is on the other side. They should stop this bad theatre and assume their responsibility by sitting on the government benches,” Lobine said.

The opposition also revived allegations against Adrien Duval, who was involved in a car accident on September 21, 2022, in Ebène.

He is facing four formal charges: causing involuntary bodily harm to a Phoenix resident during the accident, driving under the influence, refusing to undergo an Alcootest, and refusing to provide blood or urine samples for analysis.

Duval pleaded not guilty and had requested an end to the proceedings through a motion presented by his lawyer, Me Jacques Panglose.

A hearing in this matter is scheduled for August 21, 2024, and the public prosecutor will submit its position at that time.

Source: Defi Media