<B> By Pauline ETIENNE</B>

Mauritius has reached a turning point in its progress towards the next general elections with the dissolution of Parliament last Saturday. All attention is now focused on the Mayday rally when the PM, Paul Bérenger, will announce the date of the poll.

In spite of the fact that he declared his intention of launching the electoral campaign on that day, he seems to have been overtaken by events. The campaign has already started with the mobilisation for Mayday rallies and the odds are that the fight will be a tough one for the party leaders.

However some changes have been noted lately on the side of the electorate. I might be wrong but I have the feeling that people are less sick of the present government than they were a few weeks ago. The comments I have heard lately are far less virulent towards the government than they were previously.

Paul Bérenger may not be wrong: his government has done its duty. Although some important promises in its manifesto have not been kept – electoral reform being one of the most awaited – other decisions (especially in the education sector) have proved the good faith of the government.

This change of mind could also, of course, have been triggered by the popular budget presented by Pravind Jugnauth. This as well as other events (the latest celebration of Independence and Republic Day in Mahebourg), have shown that the government is capable of making decisions even if some of them go against the flow. It is just a pity that those innovative decisions have been rare during its mandate and some were made only a few weeks before the elections.

The most cynical will not be taken in and will not vote differently but I’m not too sure about the “silent majority” that does not go to political rallies but nevertheless keeps itself informed!

Besides these positive steps taken by the government, the opposition has also changed its tone. It seems as if the last budget has knocked them over. Since its presentation, they have sounded insipid and lacking in arguments to defend their stand. In fact, the government, like the opposition, makes much use of personal attacks but it has the advantage of being in the position to make decisions with the means to apply them.

On the other hand, what has shocked quite a few people is the lack of respect the opposition has shown for the institution of Parliament by being wilfully absent at the two latest great events in the democratic game – the budget speech and debates as well as the dissolution ceremony. Of course, they have the right to be against government’s decisions (that’s what they are paid for: to oppose the government in Parliament).

But the opposition has thus failed in its duty towards the people who voted for it to defend their interests in Parliament. Its absence indicates a childish attitude and “undemocratic” behaviour. This impression that they have not respected the rules of the game could well go against them in the general elections.

The Mauritian electorate – except for the die-hards on one side or the other - has most probably not made its choice yet. Even if the electoral campaign is short, the weeks ahead will still be long and both alliances will have to work hard to convince the electorate that they are the better alternative. No party is safe from public opprobrium if it is felt that the country’s interests are being sacrificed to some personal political interests.

What every Mauritian wants to know - and is entitled to know - is what the next government is planning to do to make his/her life happier and more prosperous. If party leaders keep on throwing personal attacks and slander at each other instead of getting into serious debate, people will just stop listening to them and lose interest. What the population really wants is a programme that is realistic and practicable!