Failed Labour meddling emerges in President's move?

Did Ramgoolam gave it away during the media conference

Is it a failed Labour meddling in the President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim’s move to institute an inquiry to self-absolve herself?

This is what is now apparent following the latest developments in Mauritius.

The Labour Party leadership today said MP Shakeel Mohamed’s motion of no-confidence should have been up for debate.

“A debate on the motion was the next step,” said Labour leader Navin Ramgoolam.

Prior to that, he said this would have resulted in the truth coming out.

Ramgoolam made it clear the motion of no-confidence against the President was not necessarily to oust the latter.

Was it instead an attempt to get some truths out regarding the Platinum Card affair and the Alvaro Sobrino issue.

The aim, it now appears, was to get the Parliament to hear about those who are tied-up in the Alvaro issue.

In this case, the target was the ruling MSM-ML coalition.

Ramgoolam himself has a case brought against him for stashing 200 million in notes (foreign and local currencies) in his home.

The failed Labour meddling became apparent with the news that the party wanted to retract the motion this week.

The fact that two pro-Labour lawyers Mr Hamid Moolan and Mr Yusuf Mohamed are on the side of the President is also damning.

Sources are saying the Labour has put the President in a tricky situation with the inquest – which is an illegal commission of inquiry.

The President does not have the right to order such an inquest without the Cabinet’s approval.

Failing which it will tantamount to a power-grabbing attempt against a duly elected government, lawyers said.

However, it is the Labour’s twists and turns during the entire episode that raised eyebrows.

The Labour started the move by filing a motion against Ameenah Gurib-Fakim.

The party said she had to be removed while Ramgoolam lambasted PM Pravind Jugnauth on the issue.

The sudden and apparent support of the Labour Party towards the President raised suspicions that something was not right.

While a majority of people in the country seem to urge the President to quit, the Labour Party shifted guns.

A no-resignation of the President amid her call for an inquest to absolve herself has created a constitutional crisis.

Mr Yusuf Mohamed’s statement that the President is quitting by March 23 is of little relief to the country.

It came too late, but if her resignation is effective, it will be a salvation for democracy in Mauritius.