Rajoelina, a full term without being president

Just like Obama, Andry Rajoelina is running after a second term in charge, however still after a eluding first presidential term in office. His first term ruined the country’s international credit, smashed Madagascar’s national unity and drowned the pieces into a never ending economic crisis while his just as so illegal second term is being fully devoted to a lengthy struggle to keep in control. The comparison to the U.S. president is not completely off the point considering that both men promised winds of change. Obama was heavily criticized for his incomplete success; the HAT’s leader defends Madagascar’s three most catastrophic years ever.

the cover-up strategy

Promises over promises shaped the propaganda before the civilian unrest and the militarily supported putsch in 2009. Andry Rajeolina at least tried to capitalize them, didn’t he? Tiko used to cost some MGA3500 per liter; too expensive according to the mayor of Antananarivo who temporarily lowered prices to MGA2500. A similar end was served by the tsena mora operation, one day a week for the slums of Antananarivo city. His rule apparently knows nothing about the long term concept. One liter of oil costs MGA5500 in 2012.

The Vary Mora rice at 900 Ariary per kg has not been preventing prices from rising up that long. Fuel is everything but an exception. A governmental prerogative was used to keep in control of prices. It is now over. The market’s law rules again. Did the Malagasy finally catch up, that political promises prove not enough to economically move forward?

Rajoelina draw some personal pride anyway in his three years long term in office imposed on Malagasy. He recently paraded his decisive role into granting the opportunity to have its own aircrafts to the airline company Air Madagascar. A six years long lease was signed, and a couple of his best friends’ Airbus A-340 belongs to Air Madagascar. The presidential aircraft Air Force One still interests nobody.

The ruling power got US$ 100 million out from WISCO and promised the construction of modern hospitals expected to offer the Malagasy people access to top class healthcare. Good! Very good! No matter that whole of the healthcare system is in between on its knees and relies on nothing else but donations, promises are a done deal aren’t they?

Economic and social crashes

On the economic front, the investors from the Middle East promised by Rajoelina remained in the Middle East. The Malagasy market had to make do with flows of poor quality products from many Arab countries. The promised good governance of the mining sector was scuttled by the Mainland project which has already tackled its operational phase without any shadow of official, let alone legal permission.

Andry Rajoelina draws his pride mainly from boosting state turnovers in order to do away with foreign support and standing tall to diplomatic pressure. The side effects merely affected the large scale construction programs, didn’t they? The HAT even succeeded in building one road on its own in three years, namely the RN 44, as a proof that the Malagasy imposed government is supposed to be able to cope. And a big amphitheater was erected in Antsonjombe; the show must go on, mustn’t it?

Madagascar’s worst ever record is the HAT’s social achievement. The education lost no less than some 700,000 students in 2010. The state moved a finger to support temporary teachers paid by parents, but it is light-years away from proving enough. The university is in no better estate. Strikes from professors and searchers have upset programs as a whole.

But here’s one ground for celebration: the police forces are proving exceptionally professional and efficient in silencing the political opposition’s demonstrations in the capital city. Since every coin has two sides, they can no longer protect citizens the way they basically should. Roads were never as dangerous as they are now by night; the insecurity downtown and down to the countryside would be hinting the rule of anarchy.

rather Haiti than the United States!
In the end, it would be better advised to compare Andry Rajoelina, not Barack Obama, president of the United States of America, but to Michel Martelly, president of Haiti. So does the operation worth it. A D.J. might be a better leader than a popular singer.

Rajoelina has at least pushed his putsch up to reshuffling the parliament. He is most likely the first dictator who created a party as well as a parliamentarian majority without any single resort to an election. Anyway, both makeshift presidents brought change in Haiti and Madagascar, namely, a larger poverty.