Thursday , 28 March 2024
enfrit
And what about a presidential election turned into a referendum which would ask the citizens whether they would accept Andry Rajoelina as chief of the state or not. It would come up to extend the transition in genuine first presidential mandate whose length is still to be defined. This completely "unilateral" option is being addressed by the ranks of the young TGV party increasingly anxious to pave its way to the fourth Republic in the best possible conditions.

“Presidential referendum”: the big TGV temptation

Andry Rajoelina desperately searching for popular endorsement, popularity does not always compensate a leader’s lack of legitimacy. Some TGV party officials openly remind the 1975 events as a pattern for Madagascar’s current walk to the 4th Republic. By that time, Didier Ratsiraka organized a vote concerning a constitution based on the socialist revolution, and concerning his rise to the Republic’s presidency 25 years later, the situation is significantly different: Andry Rajoelina put his grip on power long before being “freely” granted power by a military board of directors! The former mayor of Antananarivo city was basically supposed to organize a vote concerning his roadmap to manage the transitional period, and in no way concerning any constitution.  

 

The idea would have had echoed far better, had it been proposed at the HAT take over’s earliest days. The authorities have, besides, decided to patch up a so labelled “widened consensus” for its roadmap, both being totally opposed to the Charter of the consensual and inclusive Transition signed by Andry Rajoelina  together with the three other political mobility chiefs. The ” Teny ifampierana” meeting happening to be only one half of a success for having secured a very poor favourable score sheet, the TGV could be attempted to head towards another direction. The referendum is still a way to break some hurdles.  

 

Would the TGV incentive only be the way to keep in control? The party is definitely fearing its leaders failure to hold on up to the presidential election. Andry Rajoelina is actually display some evidences of weariness, worn-out by a power constantly failing from being recognized by the international community in spite of his vehement pressure on his opponents. Any extended transition would be paving the way forward for another potential TGV candidate. The empowered political party does not seem to be eager to be left behind by the union of democrats and republicans.  

 

The TGV basic militants never made any secret of despise for political alliances. This defiance might be related to the fact that their leader is the country’s undisputed number one. Ministers have severely been called back to order for having attempted to grow various movements with deviating principles. The party actually has no other engine but “youth power” and a so wanted “charismatic” picture represented by Andry Rajoelina. Shake hands with other political groupings do not necessarily strengthen him.  

 

Is the TGV yet strong enough to dare the polling showdown on its own for so much? A referendum centred on Rajoelina’s presidency, either within the transition or for the fourth Republic’s first ever mandate, is likely to meet a certain amount of hurdles. The idea has, besides, never officially been used by the party’s top figures. It would definitely   ruin everything now that Andry Rajoelina is compelled to give in to openness, and patch a consensus up. But here is the rub, the mayor of Antananarivo city strictly refused to dare the polls and clearly establish whether the people was still trusting the elected president Marc Ravalomanana or not. How could any TGV presidential referendum ever be legitimate in such conditions?