Rajoelina’s very authority in question

Who is truly leading the country? This question has been repeatedly thought over since the ousting of Marc Ravalomanana in March 2009. The verdict is clear: Andry Rajoelina is on top of a nearly virtual country recognized by no other nation in the world. He is on top but does not rule, all for most, not as he is supposed to. 

Since the beginning of the crisis, Andry Rajoelina’s proxies have been the real ones in command. His collaborators are deciding on everything, often without caring about their” hierarchical chief’s opinion”. They are the running masterminds behind a young “boss” now reduced to beverage management, and whose role was, in the end, restricted to warming up mobs against Marc Ravalomanana, since none of the president’s adversaries had the necessary appeal to do so any more. 

In the midst of the crisis, by the end of January, mobs have wrecked havoc on facilities of media groups close from Marc Ravalomanana without consulting an Andry Rajoelina somewhat taken unaware by the violence of his partisans manipulated by the veterans of politics behind his back.  

Nowadays, the president of the” High Authority of Transition” is unable to react in face of his ministers’ led genuine raids within some departments. Finance ministry technicians preparing the year 2010 Budget plan, have, besides, definitely confirmed it: embezzlements and unjustified expenses have, all along this year, spread like an infection throughout ministerial departments. 

And when the “president” is coming up to appoint a Prime Minister unable to enter his own palace since his predecessor is refusing to leave, the assessment of his effectiveness is a serious cause for concern.  

For some days so far, the next stages of negotiations aiming to set up the Maputo agreements based Transition are the main headlines. Here again, the close circle is speaking out and lecturing its “chief” about the step to take. Alain Ramaroson, the HAT member, has granted home interview to the press in order to emphasize that the Rajoelina mobility requires a meeting in Geneva, and nowhere else. A couple of days later, Andry Rajoelina is arguing that it is ready to carry on negotiating without adopting Ramaroson’s tone.    

And finally, concerning the army. No one knows who is giving orders any more. It has been confirmed: militaries are committing acts of banditry. And a former mutinous recently clearly declared that, from then on, he would obey Andry Rajoelina no more. The president of the HAT is supposed to be the” supreme Chief of the armed forces”, but some militaries have openly chosen to support the “rebel” Prime Minister Monja Roindefo still entrenched inside his palace.  

Marc Ravalomanana was probably right to say, some time ago, that “there is currently no State in Madagascar”. So was Radanoara, specialist of international relations, when he considered Andry Rajoelina as his collaborators’ “hostage”, as they often do whatever they want, sometimes behind his back.