The CENI made a first polling date public, the timing is very much political

The independent national electoral Commission has its own say. Now it has made a choice very much different from the HAT drafted electoral expectations. Although the difference is merely a matter of 24 hours, it still remains quite meaningfull. The CENI definitely does not blindly validate whatever is pledged by any no official roadmap. The constitutional referendum is dimmed to be casted on Thursday August 12th, 2010, instead of the HAT’s basically pledged Wednesday August 11th.  

This choice’s accounts are technical! Nothing to do with the traditional  consideration of Thursday as a better day for one way ticket  projects than Wednesday. In any case, the HAT provided the CENI with the responsibility of issueing a deadline althouth this institution might be further altered, could there be any Pretoria II agreement. “The most appropriate date is Thursday August 12th, 2010 “, decided Hery Rakotomanana’ team.  

The president of the CENI justified this choice by referring to the electoral law. This date complies with the compulsory 90 days between the convocation of voters and the polling day. To this end, the HAT will have to produce an official call to voters at least on May 13th, 2010.  

In other words, Andry Rajoelina must be capitalizing an undisputable achievement before meeting the four mobilities during Pretoria II. Since the HAT already announced his reluctance to recover the negotiation table, the confirmation of such will be the convocation of voters.  

Hery Rakotomanana considered ” the power’s will to finish the transition off in this year “. The CENI’s president has, therefore, the same  “political will”, hasn’t he? He definitely took a significant decision whereas all of the pledges for these elections’ preparation are not yet granted. The 35 billions of ariary already spent by the Interior Ministry are appearing so tiny.  

As for the electoral materials, the new transparent ballot boxes with counting devices are a done deal. Ballot printing is still remaining a cause for technical and financial concerns. “The CENI summons the officials in charge to commit to the electoral process’s fair run “, declared Hery Rakotomanana. The call is basically quite confusing, since he and no one else, is in charge of it.  

Now, do take notice of the choice of the unexpected polling date. The stillborn B plan’s roadmap was about to define a Wednesday or a Friday as polling day. The CENI imposed a Thursday. Such an act is complying with the electoral law’s related requirement of the polling process to be held on a working day.  

The first consultation took place in August, the last one will forcibly have to be held before November 15. The electoral law has nothing common with the natural laws when defining the dry season. The presidential election, could there be any, would take place in mid-November. It’s a perfect scheduled if there is no second turn in mid-December.