Vikram Hurdoyal is making a comeback to this upcoming general election.
What about the Front Bench?
PKJ: In due time, we will announce it. Before discussing the Front Bench, we must finalize the list of candidates. A little patience is needed.
Many government members are absent. Did they not get tickets?
PKJ: In the past, each party has not presented the same candidates everywhere. Some MPs won’t run again for various reasons. Choosing candidates is the hardest and most unpleasant part of my political career. I make decisions without consent when necessary.
What about women’s representation?
PKJ: We are pioneers in Africa in terms of women’s representation. We tried to reform the electoral system to increase women’s numbers, but it didn’t succeed. It’s up to us, as leaders, to decide how many women will run. I am still not satisfied with the number of women, but we are doing our best.
You denied rumors of a PMSD-MSM alliance multiple times. What made this alliance a reality? Wasn’t Navin Ramgoolam right to say you left the PTr-MMM alliance for this?
XLD: Navin Ramgoolam has lied throughout his career. The discussions for this alliance were recent, intense, and finalized last Saturday. I stayed with Bérenger for a long time, but it is clear that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to work with him. Ramgoolam faced the consequences, Arvin Boolell resigned, Bhadain and Bodha left the alliance of hope. Ramgoolam is unable to lead effectively. After the elections, if we form a government, Bérenger won’t be part of it.
There were hostile, sometimes personal exchanges between you and the PM in Parliament. Have you moved past that?
XLD: That’s long behind us. What happens in Parliament, we accept and move on. He has had similar exchanges with Bérenger and Ramgoolam. I take those as his personal opinion.
There were lists of demands circulated online. Were there any demands during discussions?
XLD: I outlined issues I consider crucial for a future government.
PKJ: We had open discussions with Ivan, Alan, and Steven. We are working on a program that will be debated. No government is perfect. We recognize areas for improvement.
Vikram Hurdoyal is here, someone you dismissed. Will he be a candidate?
PKJ: Yes, Vikram Hurdoyal will be. As PM, I acted when necessary. I made certain reproaches to him and took the necessary action. He resigned as an MP but remained a member of the MSM, actively engaging in social work. The sanction has been paid. He expressed his wish to be a candidate, and we moved on. Similarly, Collendavelloo disagreed with an action I took, but he remained loyal, and I respect that.
Why was he dismissed?
PKJ: If there’s a serious issue, I act. I didn’t like what he did, but it’s not enough to keep him from returning to politics.
Courtesy of Le Mauricien.
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