Didier Ratsiraka´s return is at any rate a step toward a more or less likely sphere leaders´ conference in Antananarivo

Didier Ratsiraka came back to Madagascar after 9 years and 4 months of political exile in France. Shortly after the landing, the man bent down onto the airport´s ground, however not in order to kiss the Malagasy soil, rather in order to show a short series of press up off. The admiral´s health related issue might no more be a cause for disputes, although his sight has not improved ever since. Once the issue was finally cleared, substantially more details concerning his political stand in the run of the country´s political crisis was expected. 

According Didier Ratsiraka, settling the crisis is more relevant than erecting transitional institutions. And nothing but a sphere leaders´ conference would be the suitable solution. “We will do it, if we really want in”, he insisted. The admiral would even be willing to open this conference to more figures than the 4 sphere leaders while specifying that merely the politically most relevant ones would be invited. The legion of small parties having no electoral past and enlarging the Rajoelina sphere´s ranks risks are likely to be waiting at the doorstep. 

As for the government, Didier Ratsiraka estimates that no group must yet be cast aside, somehow a wee bit paradoxical for his sphere refrained from signing the roadmap. His return in such conditions frightened the imposed regime to a certain extent and drew Omer Beriziky to turn out a cabinet without consensus. The Ratsiraka sphere leader´s come back was being considered as a threat by the TGV. 

“Hurdles have been hindering the process until the eve of his departure. Mrs. Annick Rajaona, the HAT´s presidency´s spokeswoman asked France to delay former president Ratsiraka´s trip if ever possible”, denounced Tantely Andrianarivo. Roland Ratsiraka broke from the HAT and also defended his uncle. “A minister did tell the French authorities that the admiral must not yet go back. Some people would like to recall his condemnation, and many of them are serving in the administration”, he added. The HAT supportive media groups and some figures particularly pointed at Didier Ratsiraka´s alleged ungratefulness for he kept away from uttering any single thanking to the ruling power. 

No matter, the former exiled figure expressed his will to do away with the war hatchet for good. “We must come to shake each others´ hand”, he declared when greeting his illustrious adversaries who reversed him at least once in the past, and who welcome his come back by now. “I will fight no more, I put my spear and my shield down”, he announced with a touch of humour 

Ratsiraka´s come back puts the national reconciliation back on the table as the settlement of the political crisis. A government without real consensus and without balance would at least unlock the institutional knot. Didier Ratsiraka called upon the release of the political prisoners and the return of all exiled figures in accordance with the roadmap. Together with former president Zafy, he is pushing for president Ravalomanana´s return so that the national reconciliation starts.  Tojo Ravalomanana, the former president´s son and Guy Rivo Randrianarisoa, his spokesman, are the first pathfinders