Perhaps the leader of the opposition should send a bouquet of flowers and a thank-you note to the prime minister. By reconvening parliament, the latter has indirectly contributed to the face saving of his koz-koze buddy, who had started feeling rather isolated in the opposition. By announcing his intention to table the mini amendment – for what it’s worth – he has saved his friend-in-chemistry from having to back-pedal concerning the demonstration he had threatened to stage in front of parliament and which every other opposition party decided to boycott. Each for his own reasons.

What will happen from now on is rather predictable. The prime minister – his tiny minority notwithstanding – still holds all the cards. Budget day is around the corner and he holds the magic card: the finance portfolio. He can choose to maximise the government’s largesse towards the population. A little increase in the pension here and a tax reduction there. A tax emption on items we had no intention of buying anyway. Perhaps another reduction in the price of cinema tickets – as if the political scene did not provide enough entertainment – and another original la bous dou and the feel-good factor is achieved.

But more than the budget, the opposition parties – without exception – live in the hope of being beckoned to his side. So, they will display as much loyalty as they can. The MMM, as you know, has not given up the hope of presenting Paul Bérenger side by side with Navin Ramgoolam at the next parade. The electoral reform is Bérenger’s surest way of getting into power – alone or with his buddy. The MSM are in a much more desperate position: their sole way of getting into power is to ride on the Labour Party’s back. They are aware of that and so is their electorate. There is as we speak tremendous pressure on Ramgoolam to go that route in some sort of agreement with Pravind Jugnauth. You will have noticed that the MSM’s ire recently has been directed almost exclusively at the leader of the opposition. The little slap on the shoulder every now and then is not meant to hurt. And it doesn’t. So, they will behave themselves.

The PMSD has never been in a less enviable position. No one is convinced by the wide smiles displayed in La Caverne or River Walk. They are part of the muscle flexing to attract the ally’s attention. In the same way the cake sharing in front of the cameras was. So, they will toe the line until they have lost all hope of any possible reconciliation.

With one foot in the Labour Party, Eric Guimbeau has been in a wait-and-see mood for a long time. He still is. He has systematically avoided the media to make sure he doesn’t say – or is quoted as saying – something which might cost him his ambitions. As for Cehl Meeah, he has already stated his intention to donn koud me if needed.

So all in all, expect a good serving of beautiful smiles, a pinch of staged anger, a touch of innuendoes and a generous sprinkle of loyalty. Welcome back to the national assembly yes-prime minister– sorry Westminster – style.