Deepa Bhookhun
16 August 2007
Port Louis — Chettiar's prospective appointment as vice-president of the Republic, besides raising a few eyebrows, has above all, set the speculations rolling as to who the next president will be. A thrilling political game of opportunism and cunning has started
"I am going into retirement", a smiling Angidi Chettiar told journalists in February 2002 as he resigned as vice-president of the Republic. Five years on, the "retired" vice- president is getting ready to revoke his retirement - in a few days (August 24), Angidi Chettiar will resume the office he gave up five years ago.
Government's choice for Raouf Bundhun's successor has raised a few eyebrows (and caused a few sarcastic comments) but no explanations have been forthcoming.
Prime minister Navin Ramgoolam first confirmed "the possibility" of appointing Chettiar in March while on a visit to Rodrigues. He suggested then that Chettiar might be an "option" because the latter did not complete his five-year mandate after he was elected in August 1997. Theoretically, the "scores" should be settled after a few months of vice- presidency as Chettiar resigned only a few months before his mandate was due to expire.
But, mathematics aside, the reasons behind the appointment of Angidi Chettiar, former and future vice-president, are hard to fathom. The main objection (and the only) to Chettiar's appointment is his ripe age of 79. Angidi Chettiar could not care less. "I hope to be President before I die", he says, ambitious through and through.
Fact is it is hard to find other objections to the choice of Angidi Chettiar because the office itself is not held in high regard by the head of Government. Prime minister Navin Ramgoolam has said that the office of vice-President should be abolished because it "does not have any use. We don't get anything back in return for the money spent to uphold the post."
Angidi Chettiar himself said, "Even the constitution only mentions the fact that 'there shall be a vice president.' One is nominated and, then six months later, people forget that you even exist!" Chettiar clearly has no objection to people forgetting that he exists as long as he gets the prestigious appointment. Having said this, Chettiar did attempt during his first mandate to remind people of his existence. After the riots that broke out in 1999, then vice-President Chettiar said about PM Ramgoolam: "He was a bit slow to react." During a visit to India, he gave a press interview to an Indian newspaper, Business Line and, talking about the circumstances of the establishment of petrol company Indian Oil in Mauritius, Chettiar accused what he called the "white cartel" of planting obstacles to stop Indian Oil from coming to Mauritius. His comments provoked outrage back in the country and were qualified as "racist".
PM Ramgoolam seems not to have held any lasting grudge and even complimented Chettiar as the latter resigned in 2002 as a result of refusing to give his assent to the Prevention of Terrorism Act, saying. "He is a man of principles."
"I don't want to sign, I cannot sign", Angidi Chettiar was quoted as saying, then.
Raouf Bundhun who replaced Chettiar in 2002 (and who ironically will be replaced by his predecessor) will be a reluctant former vice-president, who fought until the last minute to be re-elected. According to pro-Bundhun sources, the way the vice-president sees things is that he may as well continue to serve until the president's office becomes vacant in September 2008. Bundhun is said to see no point in being replaced by a man whose great age might be a hindrance to the job. (It should be noted that Xavier Duval, deputy-prime minister, had said about Chettiar in 1999 after the latter's attack on "cartels", "I think he is becoming senile.") Except that Navin Ramgoolam, the man who sees no point to this office, has other plans.
Those plans are not known but they seem to have a lot to do with the more prestigious vacancy that will occur next year. Already, speculations are rife as to who the choices might be. It is not known if Angidi Chettiar will remain in office until 2012 (the maths won't add up) but it is believed that Chettiar will be asked to step down at the same time as Sir Anerood Jugnauth in 2008.
Whether those speculations are founded remain to be seen. What is certain is the fact that politically, Navin Ramgoolam will hold in September 2008 prime cards in his hands and will certainly wave them in the face of his political opponents, trying to lure them to good behaviour.
In fact, the game might have already started.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2007 L'Express. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
