There is no doubt that politics in Mauritius has always been doused with a strong sense of opportunism. It does not matter which party you are thinking of because they have all done it before. Some with limited success while others, like the Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate (PMSD), achieved overwhelming feats.

Xavier-Luc Duval, leader of the PMSD, has been a minority member in three successive governments. First as the leader of the self-centred Parti Mauricien Xavier Duval (PMXD) before eventually fighting to take over his father’s legacy. As part of the Alliance Lepep, the sleeping blue giant was awakened, with the PMSD sure to look for more than what it currently has if it is to remain in a coalition.

The PMSD does not want to be a minority member forever. Riding on the coattails of stronger parties, Duval’s clique is waiting for its moment like a predator observing its prey. With the Muvman Liberater clearly an irrelevant party and Pravind Jugnauth’s eventual cabinet reshuffle akin to rearranging chairs on the Titanic, the PMSD looks like it will be the biggest winner of the Lepep era.

They are not ashamed of their opportunism either, flaunting it in the face of whoever questions their tactics. It does not matter how they get there as long as they do. Mahmad Khodabaccus, general secretary of the PMSD, is the prime example of that laissez-faire hubris. Whether it is during a PMSD meeting, his interventions in the media or at any other time of the year for that matter, he will assertively tell you that Duval is prime minister material. According to him, it’s just not Duval’s time yet but it will come. Pravind Jugnauth will just have to accept that. In the meantime, the PMSD is happy to maintain the status quo and keep the power that they have.

The PMSD congress on Sunday 25 September, which attracted thousands of people, also highlighted their perspective. Rather than talk about ideas and projects—to be fair, nobody does that—it turned out to be a shallow spectacle of a party keen to show its renewed popularity. Adrien Duval, the heir apparent, and his crew even came in with a poster asking those present to join the PMSD, with an email address and a phone number written down to facilitate things. You would think that this would be a redundant initiative at a PMSD congress. However, the PMSD knows better than anyone else what opportunism is, which at the moment explains their impressive crowds. The people want their piece of the cake without committing to the PMSD. They might have to switch sides tomorrow after all.

There was a time when the PMSD was a countercultural movement that believed in itself enough to stand against independence. Almost 50 years later, they have sold themselves to the highest bidder to satisfy their delusions of grandeur. Sadly enough, they might end up getting what they want.