Ravalomanana – Virtually in his arch rival’s former lair

Walking stick in one hand, and as usual, a briefcase full of promises in the other, President Marc Ravalomanana took to the campaign trails, this week, tirelessly crisscrossing the Eastern Region of the Great Island.

In a meeting with Toamasina
business men, the Malagasy president confirmed the elimination of taxes on cement, a move designed to boost the construction sector.
As he walked past the famous Ivoloina crossing where, at the request of the former president, a toll pontoon bridge was installed, President Ravalomanana promised that a stainless steel permanent one will soon be built, with the financial backing of the European Union.
And he proudly pointed out that this time, there will be no more tolls.

At the wheel of a four-wheel drive vehicle, President Ravalomanana crisscrossed the region which, only a few months earlier, was considered his arch rival’s stronghold.
As you may recall, former president Didier Ratsiraka, and the national secretary to his AREMA party are both natives of this region.
Under heavy security, the new president would get out of the car, occasionally, to shake hands with farmers, and to talk with them, bringing up their primary problem, the decline in clove prices.
Thus, President Ravalomanana left his marks on Messrs. Didier Ratsiraka, and Pierrot Rajaonarivelo’s “country”.
Five weeks prior to the upcoming general elections, this could hardly be considered just a symbolic gesture.
Instead, it was clearly designed and orchestrated to ward off any kind of AREMA tidal wave on December 15, 2002.

Although the population of the Eastern coastal region has greatly suffered from Mr. Ratsiraka’s last folly – anti-economic roadblocks, and a secession attempt during the first six months of 2002 – the former leadership party always counted on capturing the majority of votes, during the general elections, in this corner of the island.
AREMA national secretary, Mr. Rajaonarivelo, the former vice-prime minister, would like to plan on running as a representative of this region.
The only thing is that this primary opposition party top executive, like many leaders from the former regime, is not sure whether or not he would want to leave his overseas safe-haven, and return to the island at this time, before rumors of the Justice Department wanting him in for questioning are cleared up.
Nonetheless, during this presidential visit, Mr. Ravalomanana killed two birds with one stone, relaunching the economic recovery of the eastern province, and rolling out the red carpet for his own party, TIM, so it would have the edge during the upcoming general elections.

Translated by J. F. Razanamiadana