The President of the Republic Dissolves the Rodrigues Regional Assembly

The Presidency issued a statement this afternoon of Wednesday, December 14th to announce the dissolution of the ARR with immediate effect. The last session of the ARR was held today has ended a few hours earlier.

Highlight of this last session, the work of the Regional Assembly have not been returned at a later date. This would, in any case, was impossible since the RRA should be automatically dissolved at midnight tomorrow.

Indeed, the law governing the RRA provides its dissolution five years after the first session following the regional elections. Indeed, it is December 16, 2006 that the RRA met for the first time, following the regional elections of that year, following those of 2002 marking the beginning of independence.

The statement said Sir Anerood Jugnauth has acted on the advice of the prime minister and under section 3 (6) of the  Rodrigues Regional Assembly Act of 2001. However, this section of the law makes no reference to any need the President to act on the advice of the Prime Minister in this case.

For cons, the Prime Minister decides the electoral calendar, as is the case in Mauritius and in the provisions of the Representation of the People Act. Thus, it is the head of government to decide on the date of publication of the "writ of election." He then informed the Presidency that is, in turn, issue the writ.

In that it is the writ of election , it must be published by February 7, 2012. However, if the Prime Minister waits until February of next year to begin this new stage, the campaign could coincide with the Christian Lent.

Already voices protested against this possibility. The Minority leader, Johnson said Roussety wants things to go quickly to avoid an election during this period of Lent.

"We are pleased that the guarantor of the Constitution has taken responsibility. We expected that dissolution for two days.We hope now that the election date will be fixed as soon as possible and we will take into account the religious calendar because of the Christian fasting, " asks the leader of the Patriotic Front Rodrigues (RPF).

For its part, the head outgoing commissioner, Gaëtan Jabeemissar is satisfied with the decision. He added that his party, the Movement Rodrigues (MR), is more than ever ready to stand before the electorate.