Andry Rajoelina: pocket version resignation but without real concession

Andry Rajoelina is boarding the « raiamandreny ». The TGV decides once again to drop the leading role in orders to get in the right wagon, not to have to make for Pretoria, while privileging a Malagasy grown solution. « In order to rule out distrust, let’s let them (raiamandreny, elders stemming from the civil society or pensioners, or political veterans) lead the national dialog, and maybe also the national conference that has been confided to the civil society » he declared.  

In response to the non recognition of the Rajoeina mobility’s widened consensus, the HAT is no more keen on unilaterally tackling any other meeting to be systematically boycotted by the three other Zafy, Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka mobilities. Besides, Andry Rajoelina is getting rid of his self proclaimed statute meant to have put him on the same equal footing as the previously democratically elected former presidents. 

 « I am no more mobility leader », he said. The authoritarian regime’s leader is, by so doing, staining to skirt around the negotiations required by the international community whose mediators are still emphatically requiring power sharing between the other mobilities and the other political groupings. He subsequently confirmed his intention to refrain from recovering the negotiation table in Pretoria.  

This step backwards is meaning that parties represented within the HAT have, from now on, mover forward in broken line. Andry Rajoelina’s decision is first and foremost political. It enables the TGV party to get rid of these burdening allies, some of which having openly turned into adversaries in the next elections. The Rajoelina mobility concept provided these bootlicking groupings with the opportunity to take advantage from the transition to have taste of power and make a reputation.  

The HAT leader’s unilaterally led dissolution of the Rajoelina mobility is supposed to go down in history as a « patriotic sacrifice ». « It means that there is neutrality. I remain the Raimandreny as well as all Malagasy’s president » claimed Andry Rajoelina. The authoritarian leader is thereupon expecting to be de facto recognized by the whole population as chief of state by dropping power.   

The elected mayor of Antananarivo dared an attack on his adversaries by praising the raiamandreny’s qualities which he is claiming for himself. « There are still dignified and wise people in this country « , he argued. So Andry Rajoelina is keen on turning into a Wiseman, and his entourage is giving a boost to the process. On the following day of the  HAT withdrawal from the national dialog’s organization and the announcement of the Rajoelina mobility’s dissolution, the HAT general Prime minister could nothing else but praise. « It is wisdom, it is how people should tackle their responsibility in face of the crisis » congratulated Camille Vital.  

This authoritarian leader’s progressive resignation started with the announcement of his reluctance to run the presidential election. However, although Andry Rajoelina is longing for depicting a young Wiseman unwilling to hold on to power, he actually does not release as much as it seems. The TGV only gives up what he is definitely not expect to earn. On the other hand, it firmly keeps its grip on what it’s got. The formation of the Vital government, the Constitutional Advisory Council’s erection, and the electoral calendar are displaying that the authoritarian regime keeps on managing its transition unilaterally and its way, as it’s always been used to.