Political talks: maybe the way towards a new transition?

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The Ravalomanana sphere expected the HAT and the Rajoelina sphere to meet the deadline of February 29th, 2012 suggested by the SADC, namely since they are the ones having to make a step forward to appeasement through an amnesty bill.

“Marius Fransman declared during the meeting held in Pretoria on January 24th that the roadmap’s articles 16 and 20 had to be implemented”, recalled Mamy Rakotoarivelo.

According to the President of the transitional Congress, all stakeholders were aware of the SADC’s expectations and had to take their responsibilities. February 29th became a missed chance to do so because addressing the amnesty bill was deliberately avoided.

“The SADC can’t order the Malagasy to pass a law”, declared the HAT’s long serving Minister of Justice, Christine Razanamahasoa.

The Ravalomanana sphere criticized the Rajoelina led boycott of the appeasement act which should eventually have enabled the exiled president’s return, but declared though to be remaining within the transition. According to Rakotoarivelo Mamy, the head of its Delegation, “the roadmap remains the only way to put an end to the crisis, but its implementation is problematic.”

The Zafy sphere rather initiates home based talks. The meeting was boycotted, just as usual, by the HAT and the Rajoelina sphere. Every possible idea was collected, as well as criticism against the Rajoelina regime.

“It is no longer merely a political crisis. It now impacts on the society and on the economy,” declared Professor Paul Rajaonarivelo. He said “only Madagascans are able to settle Malagasy problems”, while emphasizing that the process had to take place in Antananarivo since every attempt in three African capital cities failed.

According to the Zafy sphere, “the crisis cannot be settled by the electoral code, the CENI, the amnesty bill, any law on political parties, let alone these special parliamentary sessions.” It considers that top leaders first have to come to an agreement, just as they did in the run of the Panorama Hotel Convention in 1991, by the time signed between the acting Prime Minister at the time and the head of government forces.

This latest meeting’s outcome was reported to the SADC and the international community. Its main topics for the sake of a new transition are made of ideas like the need for a new road map with the participation of each of the 22 regions, national reconciliation, the return of exiled figures, the release of political prisoners, neutrality and inclusiveness, and a joint presidential management.

As a response to the HAT’s will to strengthen its leading position through unilateral elections, this first round of talks between Malagasy argues that “elections are a solution for a country in peace and not in trouble.”