Didier Ratsiraka in command of the Arema party

On October 16th, the Arema party’s national Secretary, Pierrot Rajaonarivelo, announced, though reluctantly, his decision to pull out from the race for the party’s top in favour of its founder, Didier Ratsiraka. This latter, in exile in Paris since his fall in 2002, has been displaying a strong will to come back in action for the latest weeks. 

« Following a phone line talk, I have decided to hand over the leadership of the Arema to its founding father » stated Rajaonarivelo. The decision would have emerged from a common ground between both men, according to the party’s acting national Secretary since 1997. It would actually be difficult for him to admit that Didier Ratsiraka managed to impose the new deal all alone.  

Since Marc Ravalomanana’s removal from power, and, especially since the beginning of negotiations in order to set up the Transition toward the fourth Republic, Didier Ratsiraka has definitely been showing his eagerness to come back under the spotlights. In the end, Pierrot Rajaonarivelo had to back up from Didier Ratsiraka’s path. 

The situation is, from now on, clear for the Arema party. For several years, the struggle between Didier Ratsiraka’s supporters and Pierrot Rajaonarivelo’s partisans has been broadcasted live in broad daylight. The political negotiations on the Malagasy crisis broadened the gap even more, since Pierrot Rajaonarivelo’s proxies have, in no way, been involved in the talks.  

Pierrot Rajaonarivelo has not yet emphatically displayed the conclusive will to hit the road on his own, although the idea was beginning to emerge since a short while. Since several years indeed, the Arema party’s outgoing national Secretary could hardly silence his presidential ambitions. Back on the political front stage, Didier Ratsiraka is not bound to back down and clear the runway for him, in spite of a fragile health. 

Some of admiral Ratsiraka’s close collaborators do not rule out his intention to return to the power at the end of the Transition. At the time of the next presidential elections, a contest from Didier Ratsiraka, brought down twice by popular movements, is not excluded by his relatives either.  

Pierrot Rajaonarivelo will have to build up his own political formation if he ever wants to contest the presidential poles, most likely with an important fringe of  basic militants from Didier Ratsiraka’s party. It is hard for him to leave the ship but, he technically has no other choice. The former vice Prime minister cannot afford to wait longer, after seven years in exile.