Franco Quirin Claims that MMM Leadership, Not Him, Initiated His Exclusion

This is the political controversy of the moment. Franco Quirin, a long-standing member of the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) and a deputy for Constituency No. 20, was reportedly “self-excluded” from the party due to his absences, according to the party’s leadership. However, Quirin asserted that it was the leadership that pushed him out.

Recently returning to the country after vacationing abroad, Quirin addressed this peculiar situation, which has stirred significant turmoil within the MMM, expressing his feelings as a devoted member hurt by the party’s leadership. Quirin elaborated further during interview by Le Mauricien.

You have been a dedicated member of the MMM for about thirty years, rising through the ranks to become a member of the party’s Bureau Politique (BP) before being appointed vice-president. How did you begin your journey with the MMM?

Indeed, I have been a member of the MMM since the 1990s, influenced by some of my teachers at St. Mary’s College, such as Noël Lee Cheong Lem and Bashir Khodabux.

They encouraged students to engage socially and politically. I later joined the MMM branch in Buswell, Rose-Hill, and was nominated as the MMM candidate for the municipal elections in Beau-Bassin/Rose-Hill.

I served as a councilor and later as mayor, becoming a deputy starting in 2010.

In 2014, I was designated as a Best Loser and was re-elected in the 2019 elections. In opposition, I was responsible for sports-related issues.

Throughout these three decades, you have been a good party member, following the leadership’s directives. What led to the current situation where the MMM leadership has removed you from your vice-presidential position and appears to want to exclude you from all decision-making bodies?

To me, being a good member doesn’t mean being a mere follower or someone who always agrees with the leadership.

A good member should be loyal, sincere, and conduct political work with respect, without simply being a yes-man.

I believe I fulfill this role, although some might label that as arrogance because I stand firm in my opinions.

Unfortunately, in today’s world, those who have the courage to express their views openly are often deemed arrogant by those who lack the same courage.

It seems there aren’t many members in the MMM’s leadership who openly voice their opinions, especially when they conflict with the leadership’s stance…

There are discussions, and I do not claim to be the only one speaking out. However, with all due respect to my colleagues, very few have the courage to voice their personal opinions.

How did you come to the point where the MMM leadership seems determined to sideline you, possibly even from the party entirely?

I believe this situation stems from the leadership’s displeasure with my comments regarding the lack of meritocracy within the MMM.

You made these statements partly because you were disappointed not to have been appointed as Minister of Sports?

It is true that I was disappointed not to be named Minister of Sports — but it goes beyond that; I was disappointed not to be named a minister at all. To me, that distinction is significant.

Why sports…

Franco Quirin Discusses Party Loyalty and Allegations Amidst Exclusion

Franco Quirin, a long-time member of the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), is navigating turbulent waters following his controversial exclusion from the party. When questioned about the party’s anthem “Soldat Lalit,” which included the line “dans lalit pena rekonpans,”

Quirin emphasized that he is not seeking rewards but rather recognition for his hard work, sincerity, and dedication.

He pointed out that meritocracy is supposed to be a core value of the party, recalling how the last election campaign focused on the slogan “The right man at the right place.”

When asked if the current Minister of Sports, Deven Nagalingum, is indeed “the right man at the right place,” Quirin expressed skepticism.

“I know that Deven Nagalingum is a good Manchester United supporter, but I am not sure that qualifies him to be a good Minister of Sports. I don’t recall him asking a single question about sports in Parliament in the last five years.”

Quirin questioned the rationale behind Nagalingum’s appointment as Minister of Sports, noting that he has been managing sports-related issues for at least the past six years.

He shared that during the election campaign, he was actively involved in discussions about sports as part of the “Alliance du Changement.”

Many expected him to be appointed to the ministerial post as a matter of course, even outside the MMM leadership.

He conveyed his deep disappointment with the MMM leadership’s approach, suggesting it favored communal affiliations over experience and merit.

“I believe that being Creole may have worked against me in the party’s choice for Minister of Sports,” he stated.

“The decision was not made based on competence or meritocracy.”

Reflecting on a meeting with alliance leaders after the elections, Quirin observed tensions concerning the distribution of ministerial positions.

He sensed that communal factors could play a significant role in how these decisions were made.

As a former vice-president of the MMM, Quirin expressed regret that the party leader did not communicate with him regarding the difficulties of appointing ministers.

“If there had been a conversation between us, I probably wouldn’t be giving you this interview today.”

Quirin learned of his exclusion from the Sports portfolio initially through an informed journalist and then received a call from Nagalingum, who informed him of his appointment.

Quirin stated that when he reached out to party leader Paul Bérenger for clarification, he was met with irritation and told that a decision had already been made.

Bérenger offered Quirin the position of Deputy Chief Whip, which Quirin politely declined.

Amidst swirling rumors, Quirin found himself accused of indecorous behavior, including allegedly soliciting a Catholic priest to contact the Bishop of Port-Louis to intervene on his behalf for the ministerial position.

He clarified that he is a member of the Sacred Heart Parish, and while he discussed his concerns with his parish priest, this was misinterpreted as an attempt to exert pressure.

“When a cultural association president calls leaders, it’s viewed as a conversation, not pressure,” he emphasized.

Addressing another serious allegation—that he sought membership in a different political party—Quirin firmly denied the claim. He expressed his discontent with the MMM but clarified that he remained committed to his role as a deputy in the “Alliance du Changement.”

Quirin reached out to a friend who is the leader of the Labour Party to inform him of his discomfort within the MMM, but stressed he never asked to join another party, despite his exclusion from the MMM.

Franco Quirin Opens Up About His Exclusion from the MMM

Despite being a member of the party’s Central Committee (CC) and Bureau Politique (BP), Quirin claimed that he was not informed about discussions regarding his role in the party after the elections.

“The day before the swearing-in of deputies, I received a call from a journalist asking about my state of mind after the events. I told him I was very disappointed, but life had to go on,” he recalled.

The next day, Quirin received a message from Paul Bérenger, the party leader, via Rajesh Bhagwan, asking him not to attend the CC meeting as his case would be discussed.

Quirin responded by sharing his previous conversation with the President of the Labour Party, which, according to him, was not relayed to the CC and BP.

He later learned that Bérenger had announced that if Quirin had been present at the meeting, he would have introduced a motion to expel him from the party.

Quirin stated that he was subsequently informed by Reza Uteem, the party president, that he would be removed from the BP and other party instances.

When Uteem met with him, Quirin requested that the BP provide written documentation of the complaints against him so he could defend himself.

However, he claimed that he has yet to receive any formal communication from the party leadership.

At no point, Quirin emphasized, was he invited to attend a meeting to explain himself or address the allegations against him.

“The leadership considered that I had auto-excluded myself from the party by not attending a few meetings,” he said.

On December 16, the party decided to expel him, removing his name from the BP’s WhatsApp group, and only announced the decision officially a month later.

Quirin denied that he had auto-excluded himself from the party, stressing that it was the leadership that had decided to expel him without providing official reasons.

He expressed his disappointment that none of his long-time comrades in the party had come to his defense or spoken out against his expulsion, except for Reza Uteem.

When asked if he had been offered a Junior Minister position as a form of compensation, Quirin replied that he had not received any such offer from the party leadership.

He also denied rumors that he had been proposed a Junior Minister position and had refused it.

Quirin stated that some people were trying to justify his non-nomination by spreading false information, including the claim that he had turned down a Junior Minister position.

Quirin concluded by saying that he had always been driven by a desire to serve the party and the country, and his ambition to become a minister was rooted in his expertise and experience, particularly in the domain of sports, which he has managed for the MMM for over 15 years.

Franco Quirin: An Insight into His Political Future and Principles

Quirin is resolute in his stance against pursuing personal gains in politics.

“If I were in politics for personal gain, I would have accepted the position of Deputy Chief Whip for the perks that come with it—a nice car, a driver, bodyguards—but I am not that sort of person,” he declared.

“I’m not a coward; I don’t stab my friends in the back. When I have something to say, I say it, as I am doing in this interview by expressing the absolute truth.”

Regarding his political future, Quirin stated that he was elected by the constituents of Number 20 on the basis of a program he is committed to helping implement.

“I intend to actively participate in Parliament to contribute to the goals of the Alliance du Changement,” he affirmed.

Quirin emphasized the need for reforms and a new approach to governance as promised in the party’s manifesto and inaugural speeches.

“We were elected to bring about a change in government and to establish a new way of managing the country,” he said.

When queried about focusing his parliamentary efforts on sports—potentially embarrassing the current Minister of Sports, Deven Nagalingum—Quirin responded:

“I do not wish to embarrass anyone, even though we know Nagalingum was better prepared for regional administration than for sports matters.”

Quirin clarified his continued affiliation with the MMM, stating:

“Excuse me, but I am still with the MMM; I am still part of the party.

No one has officially told me that I have been expelled from party bodies.

Everything I know about my situation comes from the media or social networks.”

He stressed that an official communication from the party’s BP (Bureau Politique) is necessary to clarify his status, stating that if a decision to expel him has been made, it should be made public along with the reasons for it.

When asked if he might consider joining another political party, Quirin firmly stated:

“That does not interest me. I have not spent thirty years in politics only to become a defector overnight! It is better to be alone than in bad company. I have no issue being on my own and will continue to operate as I always have.”

He expressed confidence in his track record, stating that with integrity and diligence, he has nothing to fear.

Regarding any possibility of dialogue with MMM leadership, Quirin hesitated but affirmed he is open to communication, saying:

“I am a man of dialogue, but I cannot definitively answer that question. Many things have transpired, but a meeting would not harm anyone.”

He further addressed the situation concerning party members new to the MMM, hinting at favoritism in ministerial appointments.

“Many militants believe that the case you mentioned is an aberration and an injustice to long-serving members of the party,” he remarked, alluding to party dynamics.

Though he clarified that he harbors no personal animosity towards individuals involved, he insisted that meritocracy within the party has faltered.

As the interview concluded, Quirin reiterated his commitment to serving his constituents.

“I want to tell my constituents that I am an elected deputy under the banner of the Alliance du Changement, and the work I started in 2010 will continue,” he stated.

He emphasized that despite the leadership’s actions regarding his party membership, “they cannot take away my freedom of thought and expression.”

Quirin is remaining resolute in his mission to serve all constituents, regardless of whether they voted for him, as he aims to bring effective governance and positive change.

Source: Le Mauricien