Relationships between opposition leader Ramgoolam and Prime minister Bérenger are tense… again. General elections are approaching and both men are feeling the stress. On the one hand Ramgoolam is increasing his public gatherings and coming out with statements that Bérenger just cannot ignore. When the Labour leader said he did not trust the electronic voting machine, it resulted in the Prime minister announcing that the machine will not be used. The SIDS conference gave another excuse for the two men to bicker. Ramgoolam says he will not attend the SIDS conference. He reckons the conference will just be an excuse to waste money the country doesn’t have and that it will turn into a talk shop where no concrete decisions will be taken. Bérenger says the conference will cost the country Rs57 millions. Ramgoolam says Rs2 billions. Chances are we will never know how much of our money is being spent. But this debate has caused more acrimony between Ramgoolam and Bérenger. “Ramgoolam is insulting UN secretary general Kofi Annan by refusing to attend the conference. He knows nothing about international conferences,” says Bérenger. “Bérenger is having delusions of grandeur” replies Ramgoolam.

An act of generosity

The man in the opposition has however not commented the nomination of new minister Leela Devi Dookun. How could he? He cannot afford to be portrayed as an anti feminist. Had Bérenger nominated Labelle for instance, the opposition would have had plenty to say. But Dookun is an MSM and Labour is not being too mean to the MSM nowadays.

Labour is not alone in this. Suddenly the MSM despite having been shown to be losing in popularity in the recent survey by Synthèses is again being wooed by both the MMM and the Labour party. To prove how much the MSM means, the Prime minister in an “act of generosity” has decided to cause an imbalance in the number of ministerial seats held by both partners. 11 to 13 excluding the Prime minister. The MSM cannot complain.

It is not yet known how MSM members have reacted to this. It seems they did not expect the move from Bérenger and according to some, the rebels are not too sure how to take it. Minister Baichoo, rumoured to be tempted to cross over and join the Labour party has also been deceptively quiet. Anil Gayan, another rebel has not publicly commented.

What did not go unnoticed however was the absence of nine ministers from the swearing-in ceremony of new minister Dookun. In an interview with l’Express, the latter admits nine absent ministers is a lot but says there was nothing more to read in the matter. “They had all informed me they couldn’t attend and had expressed their regrets” she said. As for MSM leader Pravind Jugnauth, he was said to be indisposed and was represented by wife Kobita Jugnauth. The man has however been keeping a low profile recently and expressed his appreciation at the nomination of Leela Devi Dookun in a very subdued manner; “the Prime minister has been considerate to the MSM and we in turn have to show solidarity.”

PPS Labelle has also been keeping a low profile. Reports suggested she was the favourite contender to the seat left vacant by minister Michel and she has not said much since. Former PPS Eric Guimbeau also does not say much but sources close to him say he was actually not given much of a choice in his “resignation.” Guimbeau has however refused to comment. Some say he may be unhappy but not unhappy enough to go while others insist he has had contacts with the Labour party.

PMSD leader Maurice Allet was also said to be a contender for the ministerial post. He was not to be nominated. The only leader of a party with no ministers, Allet however insists he is not bitter, “Bérenger has treated us well,” he told the press.

All this tension and stress is hiding a lot of anxiety on the part of our politicians.

And the stakes are high enough. We will probably have to wait until after the New Year for any major political reaction. Unless of course PM Bérenger feels “generous” again and gives away another Christmas present…