Once again, politics has outshone the real meaning of Mayday. It?s been years since the workers? struggle has been neglected in favour of the capacity of each party to mobilise the majority at their rallies. Although the police estimate that there was a small advantage in terms of numbers for the ruling alliance in Vacoas, some do not agree ? particularly the organisers of the opposition rally in Quatre-Bornes. One thing is, however, sure: the struggle for power will be close-fought on 3rd July, when the population goes to the polls to elect a new Parliament for the next years.

As expected, this year?s Mayday had a different colouring with the general elections in the background. The prime minister, Paul Bérenger, set the tone when he announced the date of the elections, one of the most awaited moments. The next mandate, if it is won by the MSM-MMM alliance, will be equally shared by the two leaders. Paul Bérenger will be PM for two and a half years and Pravind Jugnauth will take over until the end of the mandate with Jayen Cuttaree as deputy prime minister and minister of Finance.

One major statement of the ruling alliance?s rally was that the future president of the Republic would be a woman. There are already speculations on the names of Françoise Labelle and Arianne Navarre-Marie but the PM has not given any further clue. It seems that he plans to unveil his ?winning formula? step by step.

As for the opposition, La bour party leader, Navin Ramgoolam?s statements must have surprised some. Of course, he insisted on the fact that the country needs change and that the present government must be ?punished for having failed on both the political and the social sides.?

But somewhat more surprisingly, he gave details of his intentions if he is voted back into power on 3rd July. First, the Labour leader committed himself to passing a bill on equal opportunities. He even went further stating his intention of setting up an appeal tribunal to deal with reported cases of discrimination.

Likewise, he announced he would ?convert? Form VI colleges back into ?normal? schools for students from Forms I to VI. Furthermore, students from Form V and Form VI repeating the School Certificate and Higher School Certificate will have their exam fees paid by the government, according to Navin Ramgoolam.

Students definitely seem to be one of the Labour leader?s main preoccupations. Young voters are indeed very important for every party since they are a guarantee for the future. Navin Ramgoolam thus promised that all students will be exempted from bus fares. And he intends to extend this measure to the elderly.

The opposition had thus decided to announce important and popular decisions. And the list continued? with the traffic jams in Port-Louis, Navin Ramgoolam was sure to impress the crowd. He said he would set up a plan to reduce traffic-jams, especially with the construction of a third lane into the capital.

Last but not least, he promised that all those earning under Rs 25,000 monthly will be exempted from Income Tax. These measures sounded really attractive to the crowd. But, to be honest, it seems there was no need to resort to such statements to win over the crowd. Its enthusiasm was indeed a proof that most of the people gathered at Jules Koenig Square were already convinced that the country ?needs a change?.

<B>The prime minister did not say much concerning the electoral manifesto. He contented himself with comparing the realisations of successive governments since 1995.</B>

On the government?s side, there is no doubt that the atmosphere was far less lively. Even if the MSM-MMM got more people at their rally, the same enthusiasm could not be felt in Vacoas as in Quatre-Bornes. Of course, the speeches were more ?official? as the PM had chosen this date to announce the date of the general elections, for instance.

But besides this, the PM did not say much concerning the electoral manifesto. He contented himself with comparing the realisations of successive governments since 1995. In other words, he congratulated his team for the good work done since their accession to power while castigating Labour for the catastrophic situation into which it had brought the country during its mandate. The minister of Arts and Culture, Leela Devi Dookun who presided over the rally, said the next elections would be a ?battle between competence and the opposition?s collection of rubbish.?

The PM also directed attacks towards Rama Valayden, the leader of the Mouvement Républicain, and the former members of the Mouvement Socialiste Militant (MSM, led by the former minister of Public Infrastructure, Anil Bachoo), who recently left the party to join the opposition. The MSM leader, Pravind Jugnauth, adopted the same tone saying that there is ?no possible comparison between us (the government) and Labour.?

The MSM-MMM alliance may have won the ?battle of the crowds? but it has definitely lost some of what made its strength a few years ago, the enthusiasm of both the leaders and their partisans. But this doesn?t mean a lot for the moment? There are still two months to go till D-day; the battle promises to be close and most probably it is the ?don?t knows? who will make the difference.