TGV in a political party: the thirst for power

TGV or Tanora malaGasy Vonona is a social association, as wanted by its founding father Andry Rajoelina. It didn’t hinder it from contesting in the local election since the law didn’t require yet that all candidates had to be presented by a political party. Everything is different today: the TGV governs the country, a mission that, according to one leader in Antananarivo, is to be entrusted to the political party. 

“If the political and social fields can be merged, why wouldn’t we “, said Lanto Tiana Rakotomavo. The association is already behaving like a party. As a proof, the national TGV convention, and not a general assembly, is programmed for August 24th and 25th, 2009 in the Palace of Sports and Culture in Mahamasina. A so large place has been booked because organisers might expect large crowds 

Since Andry Rajoelina’s rise to power, the enrolments boomed in the TGV ranks. They would be more than 100 000 members today; enough make big political parties jealous. The association already has a top down organization. Managers direct militants in the fokontany. They are supervised by a zone chief of three or four fokontany. 

The national convention’s stake will be the appointment of the new communal officials, those who will be called to future responsibilities and who will be potential candidates in elections. The TGV opportunity will be the transformation following the try and the officialization of its molt in a political party. It will be true U-turn since Andry Rajoelina’s main creed during the municipal elections ruled out his belonging to any political party, and this won the voters’ sympathy for him. 

Can the TGV do as well as the TIM. By comparison, Andry Rajoelina will have to win the presidential election, if possible in only one tour; a comfortable majority in the parliament and two out of three communal mayors. The Ravalomanana and TIM hurdles might be swept away. The TGV will however have to fight the now allied other political parties. 

The international community had warned against the Transition’s intention to win time and hang on to power. The TGV has tasted power and its militants dream to takeover the TIM. This pseudo political grouping has better do it quickly. Its representing officials have gone in oblivion. The same can’t be told about other political figures already settled for elections at the expense of a TGV left behind on the docks. Besides, the TIM is far from dead