The electoral campaign has started in the tenth district. As the Rodrigues Regional Assembly was dissolved last Monday, the island is going straight to regional elections. These elections are scheduled for 10th December, as the Prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, wants all political fuss to be over for the end-of-year festivities. The two main parties are thus getting ready for the confrontation at the polls…

It seems the decision of going straight to regional elections – without by-elections – is due to practical reasons. It would have cost too much money if the government had decided to organise both elections. Moreover, by-elections were due to be held last Friday – at the same time as the Certificate of primary education (CPE) exams and could have hindered the course of the exams. For once, this decision has been unanimously welcomed.

“The decision taken by the government represents a great victory for democracy. It is good that Rodrigues is no longer be ruled by renegades”, said the leader of the Organisation du Peuple Rodriguais (OPR), Serge Clair, when he was informed. Likewise, his political opponent, Nicolas Von Mally from the Mouvement Rodriguais (MR), thinks that holding these elections within a short deadline will not only help reduce a lengthy and costly electoral campaign but will also allow Rodriguans to make a political choice based on transparency and democracy.

Nicolas Von Mally seized the opportunity to deny rumours that he would leave the general assembly to stand in regional elections. “If I had to do it, I would have done it a long time ago. We are in favour of sharing power within our party and not the concentration of powers in the hands of one person as Serge Clair has always done,” he revealed.

Unlike Mauritius, Rodrigues already has a dose of proportional representation in its electoral system. According to the Rodrigues Regional Assembly Act, each party has to propose two candidates for each region as well as a list of six candidates standing for election under proportional representation. There are 18 members in the Regional Assembly.

The streets of Rodrigues are already in a state of agitation. The OPR started its campaign last Wednesday in the village of Serge Clair while the MR has already organised a parade through the island on Monday before their rally in Malabar. And this should be just the beginning considering the enthusiasm of activists on both sides.