Attorney General: Electing wanted MP as Opposition Leader poses serious reputational damage

Attorney General Anil Nandlall has raised concerns about the prospect of a wanted individual becoming Leader of the Opposition, describing the situation as unprecedented in the country and possibly across the English-speaking Commonwealth.

Nandlall, who is also Minister of Legal Affairs, used his weekly programme Issues in the News to flag what he called an extraordinary constitutional moment, as the National Assembly awaits a meeting to elect a new Opposition Leader.

The post remains vacant following the 2025 General and Regional Elections, where the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party placed second. Its leader, MP Azruddin Mohamed, is widely considered the frontrunner. Mohamed is sanctioned by the United States and is wanted there on allegations including money laundering and mail fraud, while extradition proceedings remain active.

Nandlall acknowledged public concern over the delay in calling the election but said timing was not the main issue. He noted that Speaker Manzoor Nadir is overseas and the meeting will be convened upon his return, calling the matter routine and procedural.

However, he said greater focus should be on the implications of elevating someone facing international criminal allegations to a one high constitutional post. “There is no doubt the Opposition Leader will be elected,” he said, “but I am not hearing the same level of concern about having someone who is, by all accounts, a fugitive from justice occupying that office.”

Nandlall warned that the development could harm democratic institutions and the country’s international reputation, adding that Parliament—the “highest institution of national governance”—would be affected by the presence and possible leadership of a member wanted abroad.

According to Nandlall, this would mark the first time in the country, and potentially the region, that someone facing such legal circumstances rises to such a senior parliamentary role.

He said he expects criticism but insisted his concerns are grounded in constitutional principles and the need to safeguard credibility. The government, he added, remains committed to due legal process as the case continues.

Speaker Nadir is expected to return soon, paving the way for the election of the new Opposition Leader and renewed scrutiny of the procedural delay and the wider constitutional debate over Mohamed’s suitability.