Relations between the opposition parties still appear very strained. After showing willingness to remain united for the opening of the new parliamentary session during the past week, they have brought their good intentions into question again.

Yet, after weeks of conflict and petty bickering between the leaders of the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) and the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), both sides should have decided to forget about their internal squabbles and dedicate themselves to their main duty: making sure the government does its work properly.

In this whole saga, the Parti Mauricien Socialiste Democrate (PMSD) - the third opposition party - seems to have voluntarily ousted itself after it publicly announced it was interested in joining the government.

<B>Big reconciliation</B>

Just as it was thought that the big reconciliation had finally happened, an incident occurred which nearly destroyed all the good intentions. The opposition whip, Showkutally Soodhun, flew off the handle when he realised that the MMM had sent its parliamentary questions directly to the National assembly without going through him. He is supposed to transmit all the questions to the secretary of the National Assembly. Showkutally Soodhun finally met the opposition leader and the conflict was solved after a honest and frank discussion. But it seems all conflicts are not as easy to solve...

There has been so much dilly-dallying in the relations between the opposition parties that there can be no certainty as to their presence together in Parliament.

Anyway, the parliamentary session is on as from today with its share of folklore and fights - hopefully between the government and the opposition - but also with a number of new bills to be introduced. The Equal Opportunities Bill is undeniably the most important one, as it is aimed at erasing all preferences or discrimination existing in Mauritian society. This new bill will put and end to all forms of discrimination in employment ? sexual, racial, religious? Such discriminations exist and the introduction of this bill is the perfect occasion to examine a problem that has plagued our society and finally to solve it.

But, to be able to discuss such bills, the relations between the MPs have to be clearly defined. Only then will the opposition be able to set up a common and clear-cut strategy aimed at making the bill more beneficial to the public. With this in mind, some members of the MSM and MMM have striven to improve relations between the two parties.

The opposition parties are expected to insist on the Law and Order issue. Hence, questions will be about the alleged sexual assault in public in New Grove or the recent incidents that have shaken the prison administration. Other questions will be asked to ministers on education, chikungunya or the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

As for the opposition leader, he should insist on the prime minister?s ?new? policy on labour. After Navin Ramgoolam revealed he was in favour of a ?hire and fire? policy in the Financial Times, Paul Bérenger will not miss the opportunity to ask him questions about his ?about-turn?.

As for the PMSD, it may be in quite a delicate situation in Parliament as from today. As it publicly announced its wish ? and intention ? to join the government to ?better serve the country?, it may not know where to stand in Parliament. The problem is that the government does not appear ready or even interested in having the PSMD join its benches for the moment. This only goes to show that the PMSD should not have counted its chickens before they hatched...

As for the two other parties, they should realise that they have much more to lose if they are not together in Parliament. None of them has enough weight to face the Social Alliance if they are not together. They can stand alone on all other occasions ? on 1st May for instance ? but parliamentary sessions are far too important an element of democracy for them to fight out their internal conflicts to the detriment of the country.