What would it take to make Sylvio Michel a happy man? This is the million-dollar question. So far nobody’s won the million; they have tried, but failed. So what is it with Sylvio Michel that makes people – not just anyone, we are talking of our political leaders here – desperate to please the man who will not be pleased. And why do they all fail?

When Michel went into an alliance with the MSM in 2000 and helped form the government, he became minister. But Sylvio Michel was – rightly or wrongly – perceived to have just one cause to fight: compensation to slaves’ descendants. Now, while his partners were busy running the country – and dealing with admittedly more important issues – Michel was growing increasingly more frustrated. But he is a patient man, Sylvio.

Four years later, he was still a minister in a government he blatantly did not relate to. The then prime minister, Paul Bérenger, who clearly had no intention of giving in to the demands of an increasingly headstrong Michel, kept using delaying tactics. And Michel kept pretending he was not part of a government and that he was not bound by this principle called collective responsibility. On May Day last year, while the government was holding its annual May-Day public gathering in Rose-Hill, Michel was holding his in Mahébourg. You would have thought he’d be reprimanded. But no, his partners instead tried to appease him. He must have some kind of magic, this guy.

Then he starts giving ultimatums to the government, his government. And guess what? No sanctions, nothing. And then, after months and months of threats, Sylvio finally leaves government.

So now, our friend Michel is a free man. And bets were on whether or not he would joint the Social Alliance. When no move was forthcoming from the latter, Michel did his favourite move: he gave an ultimatum to Navin Ramgoolam. And so Michel joined the then opposition. I am tempted to write the rest is history but history has yet to be written; it is about to unfold.

Sylvio Michel has refused the 10 tickets offered by his partner. Because he wanted 16 and, when he didn’t get the 16 tickets, he thought “hum… let me try 19.” So, when, surprise, surprise, Michel doesn’t get his 19 tickets, he decides on nomination day that he doesn’t want to be part of the team, with which politically, he is in alliance. Now if you’re shocked, remember that Michel is used to getting away with murder. So the sulking should be read as normal.

Sylvio Michel’s party did not return any candidates at the general elections. Admittedly he was perhaps deliberately sent to the gallows when he got a ticket for constituency no. 19 as contender for Paul Berenger himself and even though he did express his disapproval, he eventually decided not to do his Sylvio special. But the man was unhappy and he has just shown that it does not pay to make him unhappy.

In any event, prime minister Ramgoolam said he would have a meeting with Michel (scheduled way before this recent mess) and we can only presume that discussions will revolve around appointments seeing that Michel and his people were sent to difficult constituencies. Rumour has it that Michel is unhappy about the fact that none of his people has been appointed so far. Rumour also has it that Michel wants to become president of the Republic of Mauritius.

Would this be the answer to the million-dollar question? Is there a brave man out there who would be willing to give an answer?