“The current boundaries have served well… but there have been demographic changes and population movements in the meantime”, says Pravind Jugnauth. The Prime Minister presented a motion this afternoon calling for the adoption of the Electoral Boundaries Commission’s 2020 report on a new electoral redistribution.
Launching the debate, Pravind Jugnauth pointed out that this is the fifth report presented by the body since Mauritius became independent. Only two, those of 1986 and 1999, have been adopted. He pointed out that the report must be adopted or rejected in toto.
Pravind Jugnauth indicated that the current delimitations have served the country well. But with time, some challenges deserve urgent attention.
The Prime Minister added that since the adoption of the last Electoral Boundaries Commission report, there have been demographic changes and population movements.
The Prime Minister announced that if the 2020 report is adopted, the electoral enumeration exercise at the beginning of 2024 will be carried out according to the new boundaries.
Paul Bérenger : “We are not against the report in toto”
The MMM leader spoke just after the Prime Minister. Paul Bérenger’s speech was very short. He stated that the adoption of the report only requires a simple majority. This means that the government does not need the vote of the opposition. He also added that no report on electoral redistribution can please everyone. But the commission, said Paul Bérenger, has done its best.
Paul Bérenger emphasised that the opposition does not stand against the report in its entirety, but deplored the fact that the motion had been tabled three years later, especially on the eve of the next elections. “We are not against the report in toto… what we are against is the fact that the motion is being presented on the eve of the elections”, says Paul Bérenger.
