We can now breathe a sigh of relief! The suspense lasted for too long. For weeks, the whole country was kept on tenterhooks. Would the monstrous political and electoral juggernaut begotten of the consummation of the marriage between the two titans of the local political arena see the light of day? Under the best of circumstances, given the historical animosity between the protagonists, the delivery was not expected to be a straightforward affair; rather, the expectant population anticipated the obstetrician (Mr. Jayen Cuttaree?) would have to use his forceps, or even resort to a caesarean section. It turns out that there was not even any betrothal, if we are to believe the spokespersons of the Labour Party who intone that Mr. Paul Bérenger was the suitor doing all the ‘soliciting’ to an impassible, unreceptive and unresponsive Prime Minister.
In courtship they say, ‘a man pursues a woman until she catches him.’ In this case, one party was pursuing and it was obvious to most astute aficionados of the local political scene, and even to many others without practised eyes, that the other was not being charmed. And just as well! Democracy has been rescued as a result of the aborted coalition negotiations, conducted, if truth be told, with scant regard to the real challenges facing the country, but rather with the perversely sinister motive of avoiding the relegation of tired politicians to a fate of oblivion.
The proper functioning of our Westminster type democracy, with its ‘first past the post’ electoral system, and its attendant downside of ‘winner takes all’ landslide victories and, conversely, of a ‘hung parliament’, is founded essentially on adversarial politicking. This is what provides a vivifying tonic to this system of democracy through the concept of the countervailing power of a pugnaciously uncomplaisant political opposition, of a fiercely free press and of a truly independent judiciary. If the system is amputated of any one of these vital pillars countervailing power, it becomes toxically debilitated, and our democracy is consequently made a mockery of and becomes moribund.
But if we are relieved that the new alliance may guarantee the existence of an opposition, has democracy genuinely been saved? Are we really being given a choice? Mr. Nando Bodha said that it was the wish of the electorate to have a LP-PMSDMSM alliance. Does he mean the electorate which spoke in Rose Belle in the last general elections or the one which would have spoken in Moka/Saint-Pierre had it been given the opportunity to do so at the last by-election? In what forum did we express our opinion? I do not recall. Do you?
As for the disproportionate number of tickets given, by the most popular politician in the country, to a party which has never faced the electorate alone and whose leader’s popularity has not yet been demonstrated, ducking the issue seems to be the answer. The attitude appears to be, “if you love me, love my-yesterday’s-enemy-today’s-best friend”.
Leaders come in through the door and they acquire greatness. The others come in through the window and they are satisfied with power. We don’t all have the same goals in life.
The MSM leader should snuggle up to the Prime Minister and complacently smile: if he was given the leadership of the party on a silver tray, he is now being offered both legitimacy and power on a gold one. Congratulations, Sir. And three cheers for democracy!