Speaker’s Refusal to Opposition’s Demands, Boolell calls for National Meeting

The opposition alliance, comprising the Labour, MMM, and ND parties, has refused to return to the National Assembly unless the government meets two key conditions. The alliance’s leader, Arvin Boolell, announced that the opposition will not attend parliamentary sessions until the government responds positively to their demands.

The two conditions are the lifting of the suspension of three parliamentarians, Rajesh Bhagwan, Eshan Juman, and Joanna Bérenger, and a review of the “sitting arrangement” in the National Assembly.

“We will not be present in the National Assembly until these two conditions are met,” Boolell said in a statement to the press. “We are ready to return if these conditions are accepted.”

Boolell also expressed his disappointment with the government’s handling of the situation, saying that the sanctions imposed on the suspended parliamentarians were no longer justified following the departure of Sooroojdev Phokeer.

He is planning to send a letter to the Prime Minister on this matter.

The opposition leader stated that if the government has a sense of morality, it should lift the suspensions. “It’s just a matter of good will,” he added.

The MMM leader, Paul Bérenger, echoed Boolell’s sentiments, stating that the ball is now in the court of the new Speaker, Adrien Duval.

“We will not go to Parliament unless things change,” he said. “The suspensions decided by Phokeer were unjustified.”

Bérenger also recalled that the suspended parliamentarians had received an invitation to attend the election of the new Speaker but were banned from entering the assembly chamber.

Regarding the “sitting arrangement,” Boolell intending to petition Speaker Duval.

“It is up to the Speaker to review the ‘sitting arrangement’,” he said.

Duval Sr. and Armance are not members of the opposition.

The Labour, MMM, and ND are an alliance. The PMSD cannot be a fly in the soup.” He called on Duval to be independent.

Bérenger agreed with Boolell, stating that Duval has the power to review the “sitting arrangement” and can do so at any time.

The opposition also criticized Duval’s handling of the nomination of Speaker.

“Some people say that the Deputy Speaker should have become Speaker,” Bérenger said.

“That is not in line with the law. The law does not say that when the Speaker is ‘out’, the Deputy Speaker becomes automatically Speaker. That is a political argument and not legal.”

In a letter to Boolell, the Speaker stated that he would not lift the suspension of Juman, Bérenger, and Bhagwan as there was no proof of consensus among opposition members to review the current seating arrangement.

He regretted being unable to accede to this demand and informed them that no invitation had been sent to them.

Meanwhile, Duval announced during a session at the National Assembly on Tuesday morning, July 23, that questions on local authorities would be allowed.

Boolell condemned Duval’s actions as arbitrary and announced a national meeting for his alliance on August 11 at La Louise.

He also wrote to Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth’s deputy requesting him to lift the suspension of three parliamentarians.

The opposition members will not be present at today’s, July 23, parliamentary session.

Source: Defi Media1 / Defi Media2 / Defi Media3