“Once Parliament is dissolved, the political cauldron will heat up and the serious matters will then start”

Interview: Kugan Parapen, Economist and Member of Resistans ek Alternativ

* ‘Very few sitting Prime Ministers have seen their mandates out until the very last day. We see this positioning as a sign of weakness for the incumbent’

* “Regime change should not mean more of the same as in the past”

In the lead-up to the next general elections in Mauritius, the political landscape is rife with strategic maneuvering and coalition-building efforts. One of the key players in this evolving narrative is Rezistans ek Alternativ (ReA), a party advocating for a unified opposition front to challenge the ruling regime. To gain insight into the current state of these crucial discussions, the Mauritius Times speaks with Kugan Parapen, an economist and member of ReA. In this interview, Kugan Parapen provides an in-depth assessment of the ongoing negotiations with the Labour Party and the MMM, reflects on the historical and economic context influencing these talks, and shares ReA’s vision for future political and economic reforms.

Mauritius Times: How does Rezistans ek Alternativ (ReA) assess the progress of the discussions with the Labour Party and MMM in the context of the upcoming general elections?

Kugan Parapen: It is widely known that ReA has long advocated for a unification of opposition forces for the forthcoming general elections. Indeed, we regularly met with major parliamentary and extra parliamentary parties over the last two years to drive home the desirability and necessity of a unified front to defeat the MSM regime. We are of the view that the stakes could not be any higher in 2024 – the very foundation of our democracy is on the line.

While most opposition parties were very receptive to our plea in private, few were publicly vocal about the need to form a grand alliance to overcome the shortcomings of our First Past The Post electoral system. As recently as 2019, we witnessed firsthand the inherent democratic vulnerabilities of the Westminsterian model in a multi-cornered electoral contest – that is, an electoral outcome which bestows political supremacy to a minority party.

So, when the leader of the Labour Party reached out to ReA earlier this year to discuss the possibility of an electoral arrangement with the Labour Party and the MMM, ReA agreed to hold discussions with them as this was in line with the party’s desire to unify opposition forces ahead of the next general elections. Over the last few weeks, ReA has had several meetings with the leaders of the Labour Party and the MMM. While the discussions have evolved over the meetings, there are still some important issues which are pending as we speak.

We are aware that there is a strong desire within the population for these talks to be concluded as quickly as possible but then again, some issues are more sensitive than others and are unfortunately more time-consuming. That said, we remain hopeful that these can be resolved soon.  

* People matter, and your interlocutors also play a significant role in the workability of an alliance. What is your assessment of the motivations of the LP and MMM leaders, and their willingness to include ReA in the Opposition alliance?

Both the Labour Party and the MMM have strong historical ties with labour struggles. While this part of their history is somewhat forgotten by many of the younger generations nowadays, we feel that this has influenced their decision to hold talks with Rezistans ek Alternativ. Both Navin Ramgoolam and Paul Berenger have alluded to this shared DNA as being one of the reasons why they are considering forming an alliance with Rezistans ek Alternativ.

Obviously, with the departure of the PMSD from the then parliamentary opposition alliance to seemingly cross the floor to the government’s side, this has created a vacuum. We are also aware that influential groups within the respective parties, especially the progressives and the youth, have rooted for a rapprochement with ReA. Last but not least, anyone with an iota of objectivity will admit that ReA has been at the forefront of many political struggles over recent years and has influenced the political bearing in one way or the other.

* ReA has advocated for issues that are not necessarily, or only partly, supported by both the LP and the MMM, which have, over the years, adopted a more pragmatic approach to politics. Working together to bring about positive change will require compromises. But ultimately, it will be the ‘rapport de forces’ within the alliance that decides whether changes will occur or not. You must have taken that into account, haven’t you?

First and foremost, we need to point out that if any alliance is concluded, ReA will be a minority partner (with a maximum of three candidates). Members of the party are not naive, neither should the population. However, it is good to remember Dalia Lama’s advice in this context: “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”Read More… Become a Subscriber

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 6 September 2024