Paul Bérenger: “I recommended to the Central Committee that we remain in government”

The MMM remains in government. A decision taken by the Purple Central Committee, which met at the town hall of Beau-Bassin/Rose-Hill this Saturday.

Paul Bérenger says he has obtained a guarantee from the Prime Minister that the bill on electoral reform and the National Crimes Agency will be presented to the National Assembly at the start of the school year, in March. He also met Navin Ramgoolam three times this week.

The Deputy Prime Minister maintains that the situation will be closely monitored, particularly with regard to the evolution of the announced measures.

He hosted a press briefing this afternoon.

The meeting of the central committee of the Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) takes place in a context of relaxation after the tensions at the start of the week at the top of the executive.

At the heart of recent tensions is the question of the Finance portfolio. This constituted one of the main points of tension between the two partners. Last week, Paul Bérenger suggested to the head of government that this ministry be entrusted to another person. On the MMM side, the argument put forward was based on the current economic situation, considered sufficiently demanding to require a full-time minister, exclusively dedicated to this strategic department.

The stated objective of this proposal was to allow the Prime Minister to concentrate more on other issues deemed to be priorities, in particular maintaining law and order, the fight against drug trafficking and the conduct of foreign policy. This approach was intended, according to those close to the MMM, to be pragmatic and oriented towards a better distribution of responsibilities within the executive.

Navin Ramgoolam, however, clearly expressed his wish to keep the Ministry of Finance under his supervision.

During the meeting of the MMM political bureau held on Monday, notable uncertainty hovered over the future of Paul Bérenger, and by extension that of the party, within the government. Dissatisfied with the progress of certain files and the Prime Minister's decision to retain the Finance portfolio, the leader of the MMM had left his intentions unclear. He then indicated that he would rely on the party's central committee to decide the issue, hence the importance of this Saturday's meeting.

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