Jagdeo Dismisses Claims of Delayed Swearing-In for Opposition Leader
November 3 2025
Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has dismissed claims by the opposition that the government deliberately delayed the swearing-in of Opposition Leader-designate Azruddin Mohamed of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party.
He described the claims as unfounded, explaining that it is long-standing parliamentary practice for all Members of Parliament to first take their Oath of Office before the Speaker convenes a separate session for the opposition to elect its leader.
The Vice President emphasized that no Opposition Leader has yet been chosen, as the opposition must undergo its own internal selection or voting process before a leader can be confirmed.
Dr. Jagdeo highlighted that similar delays have occurred in the past, referencing the 2020 parliamentary cycle, when the opposition took nearly a month to reach a consensus on its leadership.
He noted that suggestions of a government conspiracy were misleading and aimed at stirring misinformation among the public.
Addressing questions from the media at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre following the swearing-in of Members of Parliament for the 13th Parliament, Dr. Jagdeo also responded to ongoing speculation surrounding Azruddin Mohamed, who now serves as an elected MP. Mohamed has been indicted by a United States grand jury on charges including money laundering, wire fraud, and mail fraud.
The Vice President stressed that the charges were brought independently by U.S. prosecutors and that no one within the People’s Progressive Party had any involvement in the matter.
He reiterated that serving as a Member of Parliament—or even as Opposition Leader—does not grant immunity from criminal prosecution.
Dr. Jagdeo reaffirmed that the government has acted fully within constitutional timelines regarding the convening of Parliament and maintained that the administration remains focused on governance rather than political distractions. He said the opposition’s repeated attempts to portray itself as a victim are unlikely to gain public sympathy.
