Who wants to be a minister? Quite a few, according to the latest reports. What most thought would have been a straightforward matter has the potential of becoming a political nightmare and cause some rifts between the partners of the ruling majority.

Prime minister Paul Bérenger?s favourite candidate, Françoise Labelle, is not the only one with ambition among our honourable members. Jean-Claude Barbier thinks the question shouldn?t even have been raised; that he is Sylvio Michel?s natural successor. The man has even successfully organised lobbies among his constituents. But it seems the prime minister either hasn?t given much thought to this or that he isn?t convinced.

Gérard Paya also feels he should become minister. The difference between him and others is that he has a good point. Sylvio Michel?s Les Verts having been a partner of the MSM, it would seem only natural that the ministerial seat goes back to the MSM and Gérard Paya is not shy about saying it out loud even if his own leader feels it might be of bad taste to come out and claim the ministerial seat.

In fact, Pravind Jugnauth has been very reserved all through. He has been careful, however, to precise that it was the MSM who had lost a partner. Since he has a different style, one did not expect the MSM leader to make public any frustrations he may have or not. It is precisely this approach that is infuriating many at the MSM, who feel, rightly or wrongly, that their leader is not standing up for his men and women as the case may be.

Maurice Allet of the PMSD, another contender, has also been very reserved though he has taken the precaution of highlighting the fact that his party is representative of a ?section of the population.?

So who will it be? Your guess is as good as mine? At the end of the day, the decision is Paul Bérenger?s to make and his alone. But what strikes us as slightly bizarre is the fact the prime minister hasn?t thought that the MSM would expect ?its? ministerial seat back. Is it a lack of consideration? Is it disregard? Or is it simply the high-handedness so characteristic of the MMM leader?

The saddest part, of course, is that everybody thinks that Michel should be replaced by somebody belonging to his ethnic group. But I suppose those are the rules of the game. Pity?

There is something ridiculous in seeing four people fight for a ministerial seat that will only last a couple of months anyway. Not that any of us thought that people wanted to be ministers for philanthropic reasons only. No, our illusions have been duly taken care of.

But, when the reasons are purely materialistic, the show becomes indecent almost. Having said this, when you?re already in the game, you either adapt or you perish, huh? Only a fool would prefer principles to cash. So? who wants to be a minister?