MICHEL GAMBLED AND LOST – BIG!
President Michel ambushed the opposition with the dissolution of the National Assembly last March, at the very end of the State of the Nation address - hoping that he would wipe-out the Opposition from the Assembly in a snap election. Through-out their campaign the SPPF lead by Michel fought a vigorous campaign against eleven empty chairs. All twenty five SPPF candidates featured the empty chairs in their Party Political Broadcast (PPB) now Michel has eleven members from the opposition alliance, SNP/DP in the National Assembly to answer to on behalf of the electorate. Albert Rene is said not to be amused as the results amount to a defeat for him. Rene is furious beyond limit, he has been overheard screaming at party officials on the telephone. Rene believes that the results does not match up to the resources, estimated to be around 23million rupees, the SPPF invested into winning all twenty five seats, but failed to produced the desired result.
Michel said that he was going back to the people because he wanted a National Assembly that is serious. The people has spoken Michel must now respect the will of the electorate by cooperating fully with the Opposition elected members in the Assembly. The Leader of the Opposition, Wavel Ramkalawan, expressed the desire to work together for the good of all President Michel is duty bound to reciprocate. “Judge me by my actions” were the words pronounced in the garden of State House in April, 2004, Michel has not lived up to the high standard he set himself. So far Michel’s presidency has been strong on rhetoric but weak on substance and delivery. The eleven members from the opposition will press him hard to make good his promises, something he had wanted to avoid at all costs.
