Madam Speaker, after 56 years of independence, it is opportune to consider constitutional and electoral reforms to further consolidate our democratic institutions, especially after how the previous regime has undermined all our institutions. It is precisely to consolidate our democracy that the proposal for the setting up of an Electoral College for the election of the President of the Republic has been included in the electoral manifesto of the Government. Madam Speaker, the Electoral College is a process whereby a group of electors is formed to elect a candidate to a particular office. The concept of electoral colleges is not a novel one and is known to several democracies across the world. For instance, countries such as India and Germany have recourse to electoral colleges to elect their President. In France, the Senate is elected by an Electoral College. Each of these countries has its own model of the Electoral College, adapted to suit their local context and the specificities of their respective electoral systems. Madam Speaker, the establishment of an Electoral College in Mauritius will be an integral part of the reform agenda of my Government and we will have consultations with all the stakeholders.

Madam Speaker, may I?

Yes, of course!

Will the Prime Minister agree that he had pledged during the campaign to appoint the President of the Republic through an Electoral College and that it will not be a simple nominé of the Prime Minister? I will ask the Prime Minister whether he does not agree that the outgoing President could have remained in office pending the appointment of a new President through the Electoral College as he himself pledged.

I do not agree with the hon. Member. We have a new government. The President’s term has ended. We gracefully allowed him to stay in his position. He stepped down at the time when he was supposed to step down. So, this is why

15 we have to replace the President and the Vice-President until we do the reforms that we have pledged to do.

Will the Prime Minister not agree that under the Constitution, there is already provision for the outgoing President to remain in office pending the incoming President, and that because a President’s term is for five years, it will not be under this Government that a new President will be elected through the Electoral College, as has been pledged?

I do not agree with the hon. Member. The President, as I said, wanted, decided, and accepted that he has to step down after a new government is elected. And his term of office has come to an end. So, this is how we proceeded with the appointment of the new President and the Vice-President. We cannot allow things to stay as they are because, you know, this will be an eternal argument if that is the case. That is why we followed the procedure, and we have elected a new President as it has always been elected, but we will bring the reforms that we have pledged to bring.

If I may.

Well, I think the Prime Minister has replied to your question. You may, but do not be argumentative and do not come back again to the same issue.

If I may ask the hon. Prime Minister, given that now the President and the Vice-President are in office, and like I said, the term will expire after this Government’s mandate, will he consider, once the Electoral College is set up, asking the President, therefore, to vacate the office until he is appointed anew through that system?

(Interruptions)

Otherwise, like I said, he will not be keeping his promise to elect the President under his term, under his mandate, through the Electoral College.

(Interruptions)

You are coming back. He has given an answer; you may not agree with the answer, but I think I will not pursue with this question anymore.

16 Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, there was also a part on the Speaker’s choice. Maybe you want to reply on that?

This is like saying, Madam Speaker, that we should be allowing Mr Phokeer to stay as Speaker! This is precisely what you are saying when we saw what the difference was! So, this is not acceptable! You must treat the President properly. He has stepped down, and a new President has come in his place.

Madam Speaker, the hon. Prime Minister will realise that the Speaker has to be elected for constitutional amendment to be brought to the House and voted for the President to be appointed under the new mechanism. My question is that this could have been the case and this promise could have been kept, but I will not insist.

That promise will be kept. As I said in my answer at the end, I did say that there will be wide consultations with all stakeholders because we have to look at all the aspects of it, and we will keep to what we have said. RODRIGUES – GOODS & FUEL SUPPLY – SHIPMENT PROCEDURES