Ramgoolam: "The Best Loser System Can Not Be Kept As It Is"

Yes, says Navin Ramgoolam at the presentation of the White Paper on Electoral Reform Monday, March 24. He said, at the same time, the Best Loser System does not disappear but will appear in a new form.  

"We can not keep the system as it is" , said the Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam. He added that the country is based on the census conducted in 1972 to do this. However, it does not reflect reality. So has he explained, two solutions emerge: either redo the census, the PM was removed from office or, reform the system, a solution chosen. 

By taking great care that the PM presented some proposals on electoral reform, with particular emphasis on our nation arcenciel, arguing that we must first feel we Mauritians. "46 after independence, it is time to identify ourselves as Mauritians, " he has said.

On some issues, there will be no debate, argued Navin Ramgoolam. So, what is clear is that the system of First Past The Post will not change. One does not affect either the boundaries. Because "if you touch the boundaries, this will cause a lot of complications."

Proportional representation

Other agreement: it should include a dose of proportional representation in the electoral system. It remains to determine how to do so. For a party has the right to PR seats, it must obtain at least 10% of the votes cast at the national level. "The danger if you fall, you can see extremist parties who may be elected" warns Navin Ramgoolam . 

As for the number, the Sachs report had proposed a closed Party List containing 30 names. Report Sithanen, 20, noted the Prime Minister.   "The more we increase the number, the more we increase the risk of going to an unstable government," he was warned. It has, however, repeatedly insisted that we must first not to destabilize the elected government, so that it can govern in peace. Thus, there should be at least 16, he says. But "we remain open to discussion."

The representation of women

Navin Ramgoolam said it would take at least one third of women, and in the constituency and party lists. 

Wasted Votes System 

A proposal Sithanen is also retained . He had innovated in the calculation used to select candidates of the Party List. Rather than relying on the total percentage of votes, it offers only count the votes obtained by the unsuccessful candidates. This is what he calls Wasted Votes. The goal is not to take into account a second time the votes obtained by the candidates elected to FPTP and provide greater stability by providing a comfortable majority that the PR could, according to him, compromise. "The best solution is what Sithanen suggested, " argued Navin Ramgoolam.

Double application

There is no need to impose a limit on the issue of dual candidacy, said the Prime Minister, is to stand in both a constituency and on the List. Party "I think dual candidacy is a good thing. What is the problem? "  dual candidacy: not enough explained. 

Renegades

We must protect those who may destabilize the government. This is essentially what Navin Ramgoolam said in addressing the issue of defectors. According to Navin Ramgoolam, it will return to the Party List in the case of withdrawal, death, or desertion. 

As to the issue of financing political parties and constitutional reform, he explained that he return later on these aspects. 

And finished his press conference statement that the presentation of the White Paper is an opportunity to gather. "Best Loser System is a system that has served us, but we can not continue with this system there, " he has said while taking the trouble to specify that the system is not completely abolished but will be "subsumed" as recommended by the Carcassonne report. 

And a promise, "mo pou revinne devan zot", once all have read the White Paper proposals on electoral reform. 

Proposals before May 5

He also announced that the suggestions should be sent to the government before May 5, four days before the Supreme Court does not decide on the challenge of Resistanz ek Alternative, about ethnicity. The cons-proposals can be sent to the following email:electoralreform@mail.gov.mu