The Mauritian Militant Mouvement (MMM) has never hidden the fact that it hoped the election of its central committee would give a boost to the party. The high rate of mobilisation by party branches could have been enough to satisfy Paul Bérenger but his election at the top of the list has pleased him even more. This re-election puts an end to rumours that many party members thought Paul Bérenger was outdated and a renewal was needed at the head of the party.

If these rumours have proved wrong for the party chief, the rest of the list shows that party members want a breath of fresh air. After the defeat in both general and municipal elections, they have decided to promote members of the younger generation to the detriment of senior members.

So Ajay Gunness, Deven Nagalingum and Steven Obeegadoo have come out quite high on the list while senior members such as Jayen Cuttaree and Ivan Collendavelloo have dropped many places compared to the last elections in 2001. Only Paul Bérenger and Rajesh Bhagwan have kept their ranks as leaders. Ahmad Jeewah, Dev Ramnah and Pradeep Jeeha and a few others have not obtained the expected results. None of them have succeeded in being among the first 20 elected members.

Five women are among those chosen to have a seat on the committee: Arianne Navarre-Marie and Leela Devi Allear. Danielle Perrier and Rajamanee Nellacootee have been appointed to fulfil the quota of women.

The renewal of the central committee is continuing this week with the election of twenty other members by regional branches of the MMM. Some who have not been elected might well seize this opportunity to try their luck to get on the central committee. The party should then appoint the 16 members of the political bureau and proceed with the official designation of its leader. It is only after this exercise that the party will be able to look at the future with new eyes…

But more than a simple renewal of the central committee, this election should be considered as a “springboard” for the MMM towards a total renewal. People are, of course, what make the party’s strength but these same people have to accept to rethink their strategy and speeches to make sure citizens feel close to the party. More than a simple change in the composition of the members of the central committee, the public looks forward to a revolution of ideas. The party must be able to adapt to the issues of the present and propose solutions to them – not to those of the late sixties.

Paul Bérenger’s election on the top of the list may also help the party find the right direction. It is a fact that the MMM was created by Paul Bérenger and many of the “coaltar militants” would not recognise their party without its leader. Whether this is right or wrong is another question but the fact is that Paul Bérenger is still part of the party’s identity.

With 97,8% of votes in his favour, Paul Bérenger must have regained a feeling of legitimacy that he might have lost after the double defeat of his party. He will now have to show he still has the will and the eloquence he seemed to have lost. Thanks to a rebirth of the party, there might also be a rebirth of the opposition that has not appeared effective so far.

After the results of the last general elections, the opposition had quite an important place in Parliament and the population had hoped that this would lead to a lively exchange of ideas for the benefit of the country. Criticisms of the government’s approach to certain issues are the very essence of a parliamentary opposition. With this in mind, the renewal of the party at all levels can only help the country at large.