Electoral reforms in Rodrigues
by GDL
Many, mainly for the OPR side, were shocked when the Electoral Commission proclaimed the final results of the 2013 Rodrigues Regional Elections. The OPR won the first round of the elections by electing eight candidates at the First Past the Post and the MR had four elected candidates; the margin is 8-4 = 4 but after the proportional votes were added on, the majority of the OPR was reduced to one. This cause an outcry from the majority party but the results were formal and in line with the RRA Act 2002. Serge Clair was furious as well as his team where as the FPR rejoiced that they managed to get two of the candidates in the RR Assembly through the proportional system and none through the FPP, The MR also made gains under the proportional representation and became the main opposition party. Protests from the OPR failed as the Electoral Commissioner had acted according to the law.
Following the results the OPR was asked to form the RRA government with a reduced majority of one. Against all odds the OPR held on but always with the fear that if one of his members could defect they could lose government. The fear was also that one from the majority be bought out or offered money or an important position and consequently OPR would lose power. Luckily the members of the OPR are very discipline, no one crossed the floor.
However, at his last visit, the Prime Minister of Mauritius, SAJ, raised the question and expressed his disagreement with the proportional system, supporting Serge Clair. He even promised that he will amend the RRA Act through parliament. This was music to the ears of Serge Clair but not to the taste of Paul Berenger and still less for the FPR. This statement of PM prompted a debate around the question of PR. Nicholas Vonmally, leader of the MR agreed that it is time to review the system and Johnson Roussety vehemently opposed any change as he knows quite well that his party has no chance of electing candidates under the FPP.
Having heard all the comments and proposals I dare to submit own:
The RRA should be composed of 15 members.
1. I agree the the FPP system has its weaknesses when a candidate ca be elected with less than 50% but that Westminster system has worked in many democracies and always gave a clear result and majority.
2. The full proportional system, like in Israel, has its merits but can be very complicated.
3. The two party preference of Australia is also complicated as it is a combination of FPP and the two round system at one vote.
3. The two rounds system like France works to give a candidate a majority of 50%.
Rodrigues under the RRA Act 2002 has a combination of FFP and proportional system which gave the results we saw and consequences explained above.
So what electoral system for Rodrigues ?
I propose 12 elected from FPP and 3 from a reserved party list = 15.
1. It is very dangerous to divide Rodrigues into six wards or more as a small ward can be subject to corruption and pork barrelling. Votes can be bought and this is very bad for democracy.
2. If only the FFP is applied in the six wards it can be 6-6 and who won ? This is where the legislators added the PR to give advantage to the party who had the most votes. But there is no need for an additional party vote. The party with the most overall votes received should be declared winner, no matter which ward the candidates come from.
3. So I suggest that Rodrigues be divided in three larger ward with four elected candidates in each ward. 3 is an odd number the probability of equality is minimised.
One party can win between 1 and 12 same for the other parties.
4. Yes there is the possibility of 6 candidates being elected from each two parties or in a thee legged 4+2 against 6.
5. Again the electoral Commissioner will allocated the 3 candidates to the party which has the most votes. So 6 becomes 9 v/s 6 giving a clear majority to the winning party on FPP.
My second option is to have a full proportional vote like in Israel, This is good for a small country like Rodrigues. Each party has a list of 15 candidates and the party which wins the majority wins but can lose if he opposition parties make a post electoral coalition. But the majority party can govern with the support of smaller parties who had won at least 10% of the votes.
I am submitting this to Dr Rama Sithanen to see what he thinks.
GDL
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