The HAT tries to decentralize the Putsch by an order

The authorities of transition strain to invade regions and townships. This will to put the grip on Communes is linked to the preparations of elections that the HAT tries to organize as soon as possible to convince the international community of a return to constitutional order in Madagascar. 

The political staggering concerning decentralization has reached its climax.  The breakthrough attempted by the HAT is however unprecedented. In the 22 Regions and 1469 Communes, the institution created by Andry Rajoelina wants to institute new organs. 

For the deliberating assembly, there will be a regional Council of Transition, City councils of Transition for the urban districts, Communal Councils of the Transition for the rural Communes.  

The Transition’s executive authority is going to spread out in the Communes. A regional authority of Transition is going to rule the Regions; a communal authority of Transition will be to the head of the Commune. This authority will have a president. 

Goodbye to the elected mayors. Their specific assignments will be confided to the president of the Communal authority of Transition. Once more, the transitional regime wants to replace the elected officials by nominees. 

This infringement to the democratic principle can be only efficient even though, the elected mayors, in majority from the TIM party, are maintained at the head of their communes with only a different mandate. They would become state representatives or even representatives of the High authority of transition but no more those reflecting the people’s choice. 

Could this reform of the state decentralization by the Rajoelina regime become it a godsend for his party’s political militants. Nothing is less sure. The HAT would take a risk by naming thousands of counsellors and indeed of the presidents of the communal authority. The problems that followed the appointments of Fokontany’s pro TGV chiefs is a precedent to take in account. 

The stake is not downgraded for so much. By reappointing the regions’ chiefs, communal mayors and councils, the HAT can influence the population’s perception of a definitive power shift. 

After the short-circuiting of parliamentarians, the HAT had to get rid of the representation of the Ravalomanana regime, the TIM elected mayors. The HAT’s proposal is an obvious political calculation that enters in the pre-propaganda but especially a strategy to control the next elections. 

The text will be assessed by the government of transition before being proposed to the president of the HAT. The absence of counter power leaves the Rajoelina block free to move forward with the one-sided initiatives. The order definitely replaces the law. Even the High constitutional court is silenced.