Hery Rakotomanana still defending the CENI’s so named independence

The state cannot be ruled out of from the electoral process. So reads Hery Rakotomanana’s conclusions in quality of the CENI’s president (Independent Electoral National Commission). They are in no way helping to cast doubts aside, namely those affecting this institution’s neutrality in the run of the incoming electoral process. The commission’s president is trying to convince anyway: “an election is a public matter, citizens are voting, the CENI is managing the process, the state is supporting the process.” 
 
According to Hery Rakotomanana, the State cannot be left out, since it is financially supporting the process. However he’s straining to define the rules of engagement: “all of the state’s actions are controlled by the CENI, a debate has already addressed the issue, and the Interior Ministry’s support is nothing but a financial support.” 
 
The lawyer is definitely pleading for the state owned commission that he is leading. He explained that the electoral code is allowing the Interior Ministry to take over only if the CENI ever appears overwhelmed.”The CENI is encountering a transitional period, it was put in place in March 2010, founders planned that the Interior Ministry would handle things if need be. The CENI is totally independent, but cooperation throughout districts has always been a reality”. 
 
20 districts are currently not represented within the CENI, officially because they can physically not be accessed, as confirmed by Hery Rakotomanana: “some of Madagascar’s districts are totally isolated, Midongy Atsimo in the south, for example, but the identification of CENI representatives is completed iin those regions” 
 
The CENI’s president insured nevertheless that the commission would potentially be able to manage the process up to the result publication, in spite of state involvement The various legal texts meant to be implemented are apparently ready The state’s involvement would moreover restrict to logistical preparations since the CENI would be managing the result publicatio. Hery Rakotomanana reminded time and time again that there would be situation requiring the state’s involvement: “the CENI cannot insure the process’ security for example”  
 
The CENI’s independence is consequently still in the balance., and its balance is, for the time being, not positive. Are 20 districts’ votes out of 119 be able to have a significant impact on the whole process?  Hery Rakotomanana claims that the ruling regime “never” interfered with the commission’s prerogative. but did it?