Politics

July 24th 2013 was basically supposed to be a day of election of Madagascar's next democratic President, more than five years after the putsch directed against the latest one. But it is not. This day will eventually get down into history as Laza Razafiarison's first day in custody, the presidential candidate's retribution for having required elections to be cast and for having demonstrated on the street against the transitional ruling power. Lire la suite »

The meeting held July 16th 2013 between by the CENIT and the United Nations' experts led to no other electoral program at all. As main financial backer of the electoral process in Madagascar, the International Community wants the political stumbling block to be removed for this to come true. Joachim Chissano, the international mediation's leader dictated recommendations and an ultimatum expected to be willingly complied with. Three candidates are literally being ordered to withdraw from the presidential race. Lire la suite »

Andry Rajoelina and his clique decided to put up a bare-faced cheek to mean their defiance towards the African international instutions. Yet, envoys from the SADC and the African Union recovered Antananarivo, expecting to reach any further development in the crisis settlement process in Madagascar. Ramtane Lamamra, Joachim Chissano and the International Contact Group - Madagascar's other representatives have come to listen to political groups speaking but swaying stands. Will they ever convince the unlimited transition's little dictator? Lire la suite »

As expected, the unlimited transition's leader Andry Rajoelina has once again enforced his terms in order to make the situation favorable to his position, and namely hindered once more the former president whom he ousted back in 2009 to return. The Confederation of CHristian Churches or FFKM went on with its meeting between the four major churches' leaders, two elected former presidents and the mayor of Antananarivo City now self proclaimed transitional leader who has been ruling the country unchallenged for four years because of the armed forces' support. Main issue on schedule: former president Ravalomanana's recovery of home soil. Lire la suite »

Four months are left to the presidential election's first knock out round, the National Independent Electoral Commission struggles to complete its mission. The CENIT's officials unveiled the famous software system expected to handle the whole electoral register. Their presentation did however not fully convince the members of the "Initiative pour la Transparence et l'Harmonie des élections à Madagascar (ITHEM)" or Initiative for Electoral Transparency and Harmony in Madagascar. This group actually believes that frauds remain likely in the current census of voters Lire la suite »

The physical presence of the wife of the president ousted back in 2009 by a putsch is likely to create a far too big political risk due to the unpredictable psychological impact on an untamed population. Rajoelina’s ruling power consequently took a radical step even if it means the flagrant violation of the crisis settlement Roadmap. Once again, the Civil Aviation Authority in Madagascar contributed to capitalize one of the ruling power’s political decisions. Lalao Ravalomanana was not allowed to get on the Airlink airline company’s jet on Saturday because of the very unobtrusively issued NOTAM. Ravalomanana denounced the opened hypocrisy within the ruling class as well as the obvious lack of will to promote any appeasement. Lire la suite »

The two key women in the year 2013’s electoral process in Madagascar joined hands to recall the urgency of certain a set of political actions deemed to improve the technical preparation of the elections. The President of the CENIT, the local electoral commission, and the United Nations’ special envoy have emphasized that an amnesty law and the publication of the potential then confirmed candidates. In addition to the impatience to have the political deadlock removed, the single ballot related issue also happens to be at the heart of all concerns. Lire la suite »

Now we know for sure, why Madagascar can’t afford to stage any election during the rainy season, do we not? The island’s southern region has been getting used to deserts and arid climate for decades. Now it has to deal with the highly unusual effects of the wind and the rain brought by the cyclone Haruna. 13 casualties, 50 wounded and more than 17 000 victims have been accounted in the latest temporary reports. Reconstruction will prove to be long, hard, and expensive. The ruling power calls for international humanitarian emergency help. Lire la suite »

The transitional presidency recovered its genuine face, the same as Rajoelina sphere’s one. Following its leader’s forced retreat, it required the alteration of the electoral course, namely legislative before presidential elections while Andry Rajoelina remains in command. The diplomatic wall proved however too thick. The evidences of the international denial of legitimacy to a putsch originated ruling power: Lire la suite »

The HAT, Andry Rajoelina and his political clique have been spending the latest four years with little hit and runs back and forth to enforce its will. Its showdown with the National Unity Prime Minister ended on a defeat. The government chief was asked to resign if capitalizing the transitional leader’s will was proving too hard. It was, so the Prime Minister remained in charge. The apportionment and the redistricting processes are running, and the boss is Omer Beriziky Lire la suite »