It is common fact that everything is possible in Mauritian politics. Last week, MPs from both sides proved this statement right once again. It all sounded like a big joke last week with resignations and new alliances from one side or the other (see inset). Divorces, reconciliation and slamming of doors were the peaks of the events that shook Parliament.

After weeks of pettiness and criticisms directed to each other, the two opposition parties have finally split up. Their game of musical chairs has ended up with the resignation of Paul Bérenger as leader of the opposition, his replacement by Nando Bodha, MSM leader in Parliament, and the walk-out of Ashock Jugnauth from his party.

No doubt the crisis does not go back to three days ago. The two leaders have been involved in a squabble for several weeks after Paul Bérenger proposed to his partner Pravind that Ashock Jugnauth becomes the leader of the MSM-MMM alliance for the next general elections in 2010. As from that moment, the rift became inevitable.

Pravind?s desire to go alone for the Mayday rally as well as the announcement by Bérenger that Ashock Jugnuath would make an excellent prime minister was only the result of Bérenger?s first proposal. Pravind Jugnauth could not stand what he considers a provocative action by Bérenger and this is how the two partners slowly got apart.

Experience and work

But the peak of the crisis was reached when the opposition whip, Showkutally Soodhun, wrote to the speaker of the National assembly to request for new seating arrangements. Bérenger could not imagine that he would be able to work as opposition leader if he was not next to his whip. Such a situation would not work in Parliament. As a result, Paul Bérenger resigned from his post and the seat went to a MSM member since the party has more seats than the MMM in Parliament.

The president made the MSM happy when he ratified the party?s request to appoint Nando Bodha as the new leader of the opposition? apart from a few exceptions. This appointment discontented? at least one!

After the MSM no longer showed any support for Bérenger, Ashock Jugnauth chose to resign saying he was fed up with being humiliated by his leader who did not recognise his experience and work. When Nando Bodha was appointed as MSM leader in Parliament after the elections, Ashock Jugnauth had already felt humiliated but he had chosen to keep silent, biding his time. But the latest appointment was the last straw for this ?experienced professional with a political background?.

As for Pravind Jugnauth, he appeared angry and annoyed by Ashock Jugnauth?s feat. He declared that the latter was only a puppet in the hands of Paul Bérenger. The MSM leader is of the opinion that Bérenger managed to manipulate Ashock Jugnauth to make him believe that he could become the prime minister. As such a layout was quite improbable if he remained in the MSM, he decided to leave the party. But Ashock Jugnauth seized the opportunity at one of his rallies to softly answer, ?Is there anything wrong in having the ambition to become prime minister??

For the moment, Nando Bodha is the leader of the opposition while Showkutally Soodhun could take his seat of whip back after Ajay Gunness made one of the shortest careers as opposition whip on Monday.

However, Bérenger has been warning that these MSM members may not last very long in such posts. If one more MSM member decided to leave his party, the two opposition parties ? MMM and MSM ? would have the same number of seats in Parliament. Hence, this could change the deal by giving the opportunity to the MMM to regain the seat of the opposition leader ? and why not, whip? This could sound quite far-fetched at first sight? but, don?t forget, we are talking about Mauritian politics!

MAJORITY FAR FROM BEING OUTDONE!

While the opposition is all confused in their conflicts, the government avoided one? only just! The sudden arrival of two PMSD MPs in the government ? without feeling embarrassed at all that, a few weeks before, they were calling members of the same government ?racist and corrupted? ? infuriated Xavier-Luc Duval. He even threatened to resign from his post of minister because he was not warned that the PMSD would join the government while his party spokespersons have not stopped saying that they were ?the ones to decide? a few days before. However, he could not foresee the prime minister?s reaction, who was even angrier than he was. Some even say that Navin Ramgoolam was ready to sack him if he refused to stay quiet. As a result ? and with the help of some members of the Social Alliance ? Xavier Luc Duval has come back to better feelings? and everything has finally returned to normal! Until the next hurdle?