Politics

The latest Episcopal conference was brought to an end by Madagascar's bishops with a statement taunting Madagascar's leaders and sending a clear reminder more particularly to the candidates still running the country's on going elections. The statement was read out during the mass celebrating the end of the Year of Faith and the Catholic bible's Malagasy version's 75th anniversary at a time. Lire la suite »

The Special Electoral Court's most controversial decision was not reached as easily as it seems, still it definitely opens the presidential election's second round's gates to the ruling power's champion. This transitional institution justified its stand as following: every violation of the law committed by other figures but Hery Rajaonarimampianina could not possibly be blamed on the candidate who was personally not found guilty of any of them, even though their fallout happen to serve his cause. Lire la suite »

Transitional leader Andry Rajoelina officially acknowleged in his speech to the French newspaper Le Monde his full support to presidential candidate Hery Rajaonarimampianina, not forcibly to the liking of the candidate though. Lire la suite »

In the run of a ceremony in its headquarters' facility located in Alarobia, the Independant National Electoral Commission finally released complete results of the presidential election's first round held on October 25th. Although, they, technically speaking, still remain temporary, the trend initiated by the rows of previous temporary results clearly emerges as confirmed. Jean Louis Robinson, presidential candidate actively supported by former president Marc Ravalomanana, firmly leads the others by 21.10%. Hery Rajaonarimampianina, on whom the hopes of Andry Rajoelina and those of the whole of ruling power lay, trails in second position with 15.93% of all votes. The official conclusion of this first round will be the Special Electoral Court's prerogative. For the time being, it still addresses the various requests made by candidates. Lire la suite »

What is the stand of the Electoral Commission's reliability after the completion of the year 2013's Malagasy presidential first electoral round? Observers' critics, Fokontany chiefs' created issues and presidential candidates' complaints addressed by the Electoral Court have all strained to give blows to the CENIT's credit, still, the Electoral Commission stands as a successful organizer of free and transparent elections. No matter the debates, the process was fair and will be widely accepted. Lire la suite »

The candidate Hery Rajaonarimampianina, actively supported by Andry Rajoelina, the transitional leader, is being sued by many other presidential candidates for interference with the legal process of the presidential election. Complaints addressed to the Special Electoral Court are about vote buying in the run of the election's first round and the use of state assets and equipment on personal electoral accounts. Lire la suite »

International and national observers declared themselves to be pleased by the development of the presidential election's first round, in spite of the fact that the right to cast vote was denied to a certain number citizens. The concerned certain number would have not possibly tipped the scales, was told about this issue, though without any accurate valuation. The Electoral Commission may keep completing its duty while considering recommendations, and playing a deaf ear to counterproductive critics. Lire la suite »

The temporary results of the Malagasy presidential election's first round held on October 25th 2013 increasingly confirm the expected second round duel between Marc Ravalomanana's unique champion and one of Andry Rajoelina's minions. Surveys used to favor Dr. Jean Louis Robinson with leading 20 percents of approval rate, and did not get it wrong. The last opened question was the name of his challenger at the likely second round. He will apparently be Hery Rajaonarimampianina, the genuine last hope to a ruling power flexing its financial muscle to the breakpoint in order to remain the ruling power. Lire la suite »

The disappointment and the growing grudge felt by Malagasy voters unable to cast their votes on October 25th, 2013, can in no way be overlooked. Will the presidential election's second round provide them with a second chance? Transitional prime minister Omer Beriziky does think so. The President of the Electoral Commission addresses the possibility to do so as allowed by Malagasy laws. The United Nations' spokeswoman does however not seem any willing to let the electoral register get reopened anew. Lire la suite »

D Day on October 25th 2013. The Malagasy people joined the polling stations, if not massively, still with grim determination. On the day earlier, the President of the National Electoral Commission described several dozens of times the voting process as "secured", though conceding that a certain number of citizens would not be allowed to cast their vote for being out of the electoral register. The Electoral Commission must have had not enough time to make its job anywhere near as perfect. Lire la suite »