An angry Special Delegation President (SDP)

Although the population of Fianarantsoa appears to stand behind Special Delegation President Pety Rakotoniaina, and regardless of the fact that he has made a substantial contribution toward President Ravalomanana?s ascent to power, the administration deemed it necessary to remove him from his post. Understandably, the governor is quite angry. Dismissed on Sunday, during a ministers? conference, Special Delegation President Pety Rakotoniaina intends to oppose the government?s decision. He was intent on taking his case to the people of the city of Fianarantsoa on January 29, 2003. It seemed this young MFM militant had to find out about his dismissal through the media.

So far, there has been no official reaction from the MFM party which appears to be on the verge of an implosion. While the party?s Secretary General views SDP Pety Rakotoniaina?s removal from office as a “declaration of war”, Mr. Manandafy Rakotonirina, the party?s National President, prefers to play it down.

So far, four out of six Special Delegation Presidents have been unseated. Nonetheless, no dismissal has been more baffling, or more controversial than that of the province of Fianarantsoa?s SDP.

It was quite obvious that the government did not expect Pety Rakotoniaina?s dismissal to lead to so much controversy. For now, the officials have opted to err on the side of discretion. This is the first internal squabble which could spell trouble within the new Ravalomanana regime. Could this be the Malagasy President?s first political blunder? After all, Mr. Pety Rakotoniaina has done much, one year earlier, to rid the city of Fianarantsoa of pro-Ratsiraka rebels. Not surprisingly, the province?s inhabitants feel a genuine sympathy towards him.

Will it be necessary to resort to military means to remove SDP Pety Rakotoniaina, just as they have done with the former provincial governor, a notoriously staunch Ratsiraka sympathizer? For now, the situation has yet to reach that critical stage. Negotiations are under way for a peaceful transition of power between Mr. Pety Rakotoniaina, and General Ravelomanga, two personalities who, to top it all off, know each other well. Pro-Rakotoniaina sympathizers continue to denounce what they view as a blatant lack of gratitude on the part of the new leadership. They are threatening to block the transition. The army, for its part, is deeply divided with regards to the issue.