Political Alliances: Government & Opposition Ramp Up Negotiations This Weekend

This weekend is expected to witness significant political developments in Mauritius, as both the government and opposition push to finalize electoral alliances ahead of the imminent dissolution of the National Assembly.

PTr-MMM-ND/ReA Discussions: Key Announcement Expected Saturday, September 14. After weeks of negotiations, it appears that the alliance between the Labour Party (PTr), the Militant Socialist Movement (MMM), the New Democrats (ND), and Rezistans ek Alternativ (ReA) is on the verge of overcoming major hurdles to reach an electoral agreement.

Meetings throughout the week have helped resolve disputes that previously hindered collaboration between the two parties.

One of the major sticking points was the requirement for candidates to declare their ethnicity, a requirement necessary for running in the general elections.

ReA has firmly opposed this stipulation, proposing two alternatives: a lottery system to determine declared ethnicity or allowing its candidates to identify as part of the “general population.”

These proposals did not resonate well with leaders of the Labour-MMM-ND alliance.

However, it seemed a compromise was reached this week, allowing ReA candidates to declare themselves as belonging to the Hindu community, albeit under protest, according to DEfi Media’s sources close to the negotiations.

Simultaneously, discussions regarding the allocation of electoral tickets are progressing.

The left-wing party is expected to receive two or three tickets, though this remained undecided.

Even if ReA received only two tickets, it would not pose a significant issue given the progress made thus far.

Potential constituencies mentioned include No. 4 (Port-Louis North/Montagne-Longue), No. 13 (Rivière-des-Anguilles/Souillac), and No. 8 (Quartier-Militaire/Moka), with Babita Thanoo anticipated as a candidate.

As negotiations with ReA continued, pressure within the Labour-MMM-ND alliance has intensified to finalize an agreement quickly.

The stakes are high; failure to reach consensus could seriously undermine the credibility of the opposition alliance, reinforcing perceptions that the Labour and MMM are incapable of forging agreements with other political forces.

Furthermore, ReA’s involvement alongside the Labour-MMM-ND bloc is seen as a fresh and revitalizing asset, positively received by the public.

A new meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 13, 2024. Should discussions progress well, an official announcement may be made as early as Saturday, September 14, during a press conference.

However, it remained uncertain whether ReA will be present to confirm the establishment of this new alliance.

MSM’s Push for Coalition Agreements

On the government side, the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), the leading party in power, is also striving to expedite the negotiation of alliances ahead of this weekend, as important decisions on political coalitions are anticipated.

Discussions are primarily focused on potential partnerships with the Muvman Patriot Morisien (MPM) led by Alan Ganoo, Linite Militan headed by Steven Obeegadoo, the Muvman Liberater (ML) led by Ivan Collendavelloo, and the Mauritian Social Democratic Party (PMSD) guided by Xavier-Luc Duval.

Time is of the essence, as the deadline for dissolving the National Assembly is approaching, prompting Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth to finalize these negotiations soon.

Within the MPM, tensions have emerged concerning the distribution of electoral tickets.

The Prime Minister has reportedly made a decision against the inclusion of two of Ganoo’s protégés, Vincent Seetaram and Parwez Nunnoo, who were initially anticipated for constituencies No. 20 (Beau-Bassin/Petite-Rivière) and No. 13 (Rivière-des-Anguilles/Souillac).

Tania Diolle, who was eyeing constituency No. 18 (Belle-Rose/Quatre-Bornes), may now be redirected to No. 14 (Savanne/Rivière-Noire), alongside her mentor, Alan Ganoo.

The ML is expected to secure only two nominations in the upcoming general elections.

Ismaël Rawoo may shift from constituency No. 13 to No. 10 (Montagne-Blanche/Grande-Rivière-Sud-Est).

Nonetheless, Collendavelloo appeared determined to advocate for his son’s inclusion on the candidate list, though this matter remained unresolved.

Negotiations with Obeegadoo seem more promising, as he is willing to accept a single ticket, despite expressing interest in an additional nomination for one of his associates.

Managing this aspect of his party’s interests is perceived as considerably easier, given Obeegadoo’s relatively flexible stance.

As for the PMSD, discussions suggested that the party led by Xavier-Luc Duval will secure ten nominations, despite initially requesting twelve.

However, a contentious issue remained regarding Aurore Perraud, wishing to avoid constituency No. 12 (Mahébourg/Plaine-Magnien).

As the deadline for the National Assembly’s dissolution draws near, political arrangements among parties are expected to shape the upcoming elections in Mauritius.

Source: Defi Media