Can Monetary Incentives Influence Voter Decisions?

In a recent episode of “Au cœur de l’info,” hosted by Prem Sewpaul on Radio Plus, economist Kugan Parapen shared his insights on the current political climate as Mauritius approaches its general elections. Parapen, a member of the political party Resistans ek Alternativ, expressed his view that it is not uncommon for governments nearing the end of their term to introduce popular measures aimed at winning public favor.

However, he raised concerns about the recent flurry of government announcements.

Parapen noted, “The population is questioning why so many measures have suddenly appeared as if they fell from the sky and were rushed out just before the elections.”

He explained that the government’s intentions may be perceived as attempts to entice voters.

“It appears that the government is desperately trying to make the public forget about various events from the past five years,” he commented.

He emphasized that the electorate has not forgotten significant incidents such as the Wakashio oil spill, the Pack & Blister controversy, the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the death of Soopramanien Kistnen, the former Speaker of the National Assembly.

Parapen stated, “Can money truly buy public consciousness? Based on what we are hearing, it won’t be enough.”

According to Parapen, the majority of the population has likely already made their decision regarding the government’s performance.

“They will sanction it based on the misery they have experienced,” he asserted.

Legal expert Richard Rault, also engaged in the discussion, shared his concerns over the continuous announcements of new measures.

He noted that business leaders are worried about the sustainability of salary increases. “They have not been consulted, and there has been no discussion regarding these measures.

They are simply expected to shoulder the financial burden, and we all know that ultimately, it is the consumers who will pay the price,” he said.

Rault expressed alarm at the rising costs of living, saying, “Are we able to continue this way?

We are becoming a country where living expenses are very high.”

Rault described the current situation as a “significant deterioration of the purchasing power of Mauritians,” asserting that this is not merely a perception but a harsh reality faced by citizens on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, trade unionist Deepak Benydin took a broader perspective on the government’s measures.

He emphasized that trade unions remain apolitical and continue their fight regardless of the ruling government.

He criticized the recent salary adjustments for civil servants as insufficient, stating, “We are not satisfied with the salary readjustment for public servants.

There has been no scientific basis for it.” He argued that the 5% increase falls short and does not adequately represent the contributions of civil servants.

“Everyone ends up losing. Where is the logic in this? We have even written to the Pay Research Bureau requesting a meeting to raise this issue.

There is already a salary structure in place—why has this not been taken into account?” he concluded.

Source: Defi Media