The new government is in. And, as promised, things were set rolling pretty much straightaway after the Alliance Sociale was declared winner of the 2005 general elections held on 3rd July. The prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, was sent his letter of appointment the very next day and the new government was sworn in two days later on 7th July.

The Ramgoolam government had an eventful coming in. The first week saw the hunger strike of 300 plus health care assistants recruited just before elections. Another big issue was the squatters who illegally broke into NHDC apartments. Prime minister Ramgoolam had decided to adopt as firm a line with the squatters as with the HCA. Last week, a brawl between detainees in GRNW prison left one dead and two seriously injured, bringing back the question of growing insecurity inside the walls of our penal institutions. A problem the present government has inherited from the last one. (Read more in page 10).

Meanwhile, the institutional crisis that started on day one (when Ramgoolam refused to go and fetch his letter of appointment from State House) and escalated when the president of the Republic had to come down to Port Louis for the swearing-in of the new government and face, in the process, the hostility of the partisan crowd.

Since then, prime minister Ramgoolam has made his stand clear; he does not want SAJ as president of the Republic. Those close to power say that the prime minister would not be able to trust President Jugnauth with matters of state as the latter is too close to the opposition. Others argue that this is just an excuse for a very personal rivalry between the two men.

<B>This government has been elected partly because of of discontent against the previous government led by Bérenger and also because the discourse of the Alliance Sociale ? the promises of a better life appealed to many. </B>

While some also argue that Ramgoolam can legitimately ask Jugnauth to step down as he has just won a mandate from the people, others say the question of legitimacy does not arise where the president is concerned, as he has been elected for a five-year period. In any event, the crisis does not seem likely to come to a rapid conclusion; SAJ won?t give in and Ramgoolam won?t give up. Where will this all lead the country? Time only will tell?

In the meantime, minister of Finance, Rama Sithanen, called a press conference to shed light on the true state of the country?s finances. He averred that the previous government had been economical with the truth concerning the real figures and that the situation is even worse than what the MMM-MSM regime led people to believe.He thus underlined the urgency of the situation.

As the Ramgoolam government is facing its new challenges, the role of the opposition is less clear. Paul Bérenger first called a press conference to explain that he lost power because people voted in a communal way. Then he appeared to have been able to digest the defeat and presented himself as the defender of the president of the Republic, sowing more confusion as to the apolitical role of the holder of the office. The relationship between the two opposition parties seems slightly strained, on the other hand, with the MSM saying they will present Pravind Jugnauth as the next prime minister. The opening of Parliament should shed more light on the situation.

As the country is cruising through the rough waters of change, people are literally counting the days. Many electoral promises have been taken literally; ?in 100 days, Mauritians will begin to feel the change in their lives?. For many, though, this is just a means of humouring the new government.

But hopes are high; this government has been elected partly because of a situation of discontent against the previous government led by Bérenger and also because the discourse of the Alliance Sociale ? the promises of a better life ? appealed to many. Prime minister Ramgoolam seems aware of this and it is said the man spends a lot of time in his office working away to make his promises come true. Ramgoolam has also publicly warned his ministers: ?if you cannot deliver, out you go.? Hopes are high and the government seems keen to deliver. Will it?