It’s all kicking off in Port Louis as Mauritius’s Deputy Prime Minister has announced he is intending to resign. Paul Berenger said: “My decision is made, but when I implement it, and if I do, I will communicate the details.” A full-blown political crisis is kicking off in Mauritius, thanks to Keir Starmer…
The Mauritius Parliament had been expected to resume its term today. At the top of the DPM’s list for why he is resigning? Local press reports: “given the worsening economic situation and international tensions, particularly the war in the Middle East, “this is not the time for the country not to have a full-time Minister of Finance.” As Guido has noted, the demise of the Chagos deal has blown a hole in the Mauritius budget…
The country’s government could now collapse, further complicating the status of the paused Chagos deal which was derailed by President Trump. If an election looms in Mauritius, the deal will go into a further pause – only Starmer could get this unlucky…
In Henry Mance’s piece today for the FT, lunching with Nigel Farage:
“Splendido!” Farage says, when the drinks arrive; I suppose it’s a step to European reconciliation. We clink glasses, and he lights the first of two back-to-back Benson & Hedges. A few minutes later, we’re back downstairs. “Are you drinking? Good.” He orders a glass of Sauvignon blanc for each of us — not a bottle, “because it’s Lent” — followed by a bottle of claret, to have with our meal. They say Farage drinks less than he used to. They say a lot of things.”