The Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate (PMSD) is back in business. It is too early to say whether it will join the government but a first step has been made. PMSD leader Maurice Allet met prime minister Navin Ramgoolam last week. Although not much has leaked out of these discussions, it has been called a positive move for the former partner of the opposition alliance.

Last Tuesday, many had wondered what would happen in Parliament. Apart from the conflicting relations between the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) and the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM), another party was the object of attention. The two PMSD MPs, Maurice Allet and Eric Guimbeau, finally sat as independent members.

After their defeat in the general elections, the three opposition parties had decided to stand alone as independent parties to strengthen their position. However, the MSM and the MMM had said they would remain together in Parliament as the opposition. Even though the situation is far from simple between them – their relations appear more than fragile even in Parliament – the PMSD had made a step further. Maurice Allet publicly stated he was in favour of joining the government… Even though the government had appeared quite interested in the proposal at the beginning, it had since then shown no particular interest in a new partner. But the meeting last week could mean the new collaboration might finally occur.

The announcement by Maurice Allet has however not made every party member happy. Dissatisfied with the lack of ideology shown by her party, Sandra O’Reilly, member of the political bureau, resigned from her post. “If the PMSD joins the government in order to make their voices heard on important issues or to obtain more social justice and work for national unity, then I do not mind. But I do not think this is the case in this particular context,” she revealed in an interview to Week-End. She could not remain in a party where she could not state her opinions – particularly against the Gokhool reform – in case this prevents her party from joining the government.

But this resigning should not stop the PMSD continuing its ‘fight’ to join the social alliance. And the fact that the Parti Mauricien Xavier Duval (PMXD) now openly speaks of a fusion of their parties makes it even more plausible. But this fusion could finally appear to be a problem between the two parties. While the PMSD prefers to speak of an “entente”, the PMXD insists on the reunification of the ‘blue family’.

In any case, it seems neither of the two parties wants to make any quick decisions. With the death of the Labour party’s honorary president, Sir Satcam Boolell, the government might have other issues in mind. Besides, the prime minister is leaving for France where he will meet the French President and an important section of the French private sector. As for the PMSD, it may not want to lose all its chances of joining the government by being too demanding too quickly. Hence, both sides will probably wait for a while before going ahead with their eventual negotiations.

<B>MSM and MMM working together... for how long?</B>

On the eve of the first Parliamentary session last week, it was still unclear whether the MSM and the MMM had finally solved their differences and would work together in the opposition. Finally they decided they would even though the MMM leader, Paul Bérenger, did not hesitate to qualify his relationship with the MSM leader, Praving Jugnauth, as “cold”. They did not meet as scheduled before the Parliamentary session on Monday because Pravind Jugnauth was annoyed by the interview given by MMM ex-minister Pradeep Jeeha to 5-Plus. Hence, their relations seem to have reached a “status-quo”… for the moment. The leader of the opposition, Paul Bérenger, chose to make of his private notice question to the prime minister a last opportunity for the government to review its educational reform – more particularly the implementation of a new A+ grade. But as Paul Bérenger asked the PM if the government would implement a select committee to discuss the reform, the PM did not even answer and asked the minister concerned, Dharam Gokhool, to reply. The latter merely said he did not find it necessary. It seems the government has dug the hatchet up; the opposition leader said its lawyers were ready to fight the issue in Court and he would not hesitate to do so… as a last resort.