In a reply to a Private Notice Question in the National Assembly last week, the Prime Minister suggested that the best way to proceed was to try to reach as broad a consensus as possible among all stakeholders.

He underlined the need for an extensive debate before bringing amendments to such fundamental aspects of the jurisdiction's democracy. On this score, the Prime Minister revealed that the government will facilitate the involvement of major political parties in the initial stages of the consultation, although he observed that "it is obviously never possible to reach complete consensus. An electoral change is more than just a technical exercise. It is a comprehensive political process that requires careful consensus building”.

Referring to the best loser system currently in place, the Prime Minister argued that this system has outlived its usefulness, even though it has served Mauritius well.

In view of the plurality and diversity of the country, he suggested the new system should subsume the best loser system, giving adequate parliamentary representation to all components of the Mauritian "rainbow nation".

The Prime Minister also gave assurances that the government will not change the First Past the Post System.