Mauritius: Ruling party, main opposition party sign electoral deal

Ebene, Mauritius (PANA) – The ruling Labour Party (PTR) in Mauritius and the main opposition Mauritian Militant Movement (MMM) on Saturday signed a deal ahead of the parliamentary elections due shortly on the island.

Prime minister Navin Ramgoolam, also leader of PTR, said the agreement represented a decisive moment in the political history of the island.

"This is not a deal between (MMM leader) Paul Bérenger and (Prime minister) Navin Ramgoolam; it is global agreement which lays the major lines for our government's action and which will take Mauritius higher and make the country a modern one,” said Mr Ramgoolam.

He added that the agreement opened a new chapter in the history of Mauritius.

"Our priority is to modernize the island in a bid to make it a model of democracy," he said.

Mr Bérenger said that the next government was considering introducing a new bill on the financing of political parties, which has been at the heart of debates for several years on the island.

The other opposition parties, including the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM), led by former president Sir Anerood Jugnauth, have begun discussing an electoral alliance to counter the deal signed on Saturday by PTR and MMM.
-0- PANA NA/JSG/MSA/MA 20Sept2014