the topics addressed in the run of the year 2013’s presidential electoral campaign

Effective decentralization of power: decentralization has never been clearly defined and has, as such, always been remaining a tremendous challenge to each leadership, more particularly to the next democratically elected president after four years of power concentration in the hands of a non elected leader. Most of the candidates do promise larger power and financial support to communes. Of course, the transitional former minister in charge of the decentralization department is in the best possible position to build on the issue. His goal: making a strong State, as a substitution to the dictatorship.

The High Constitutional Court: for the sake of redeeming its past errors, most of the candidates appear willing to shape this judicial institution up anew, and provide it in addition to its constitutional central prerogative with a department in charge of judging political leaders.

Rice: the leading down to earth issue; Hery Rajaonarimampianina might have had not time to make an in depth investigation of it, and makes dim promises of large scale facilities for the sake of convincing the rural class. As for Roland Ratsiraka, no less than a rice management ministry would be in sight. To the well off farmer Rakoto Jean Pierre does rice management happen to be the electoral campaign’s gravity center.

Environment: environment is for the Green Party’s candidate Saraha Georget Rabeharisoa what rice management is for Rakoto Jean Pierre. Environmental issues like mining activity related environmental damages and depredation of forests may well be addressed by other candidates, but to a much lesser extent than hers.

Mining exploitation contracts: points about them are different. How far do mining exploitation contracts signed with already operating companies need to be addressed anew, if at all?  Madagascar happens to be entitled to no more than one single percent from the returns of the exploitation of its cobalt, nickel and ilmenite reserves. At least such a stand is commonly not percieved as fair.

Investments: all of the presidential candidates have learnt from the past and do not intend to break away from the country’s traditional financial backers out of excessive confidence in the country’s autonomy for the sake of an outburst of nationalism. France will remain the country’s main bilateral partner while some other candidates are increasingly turning to China. Attracting scores of business people together with their “billlions of dollars” has become a casual electoral promise.

Education: happens to be a burning issue to the youth making a large part of the voting population. A handful of new and original ideas have popped up, namely school cantinas and busses and free from charges education.

Employement: 450 000 to 1 000 000 new jobs immediately, new enlisting with a Ar 300 000 high basic wage for A level owners… the sale’s pitches are legions, although the State’s potential role in this issue remains poorly addressed. At least, candidates dare presenting figures and schedules about the capitalization of their plans.

Genuine Change: political decisions expected to settle social, economic and structural problems would entail genuine change in the daily life within 100, 90 days and so on…

Security: the issue is real. Cattle in the island’s southern parts are absolutely free game for “Dahalo” thieves. Proposals are not scarce about it: a special agency in charge of dealing with the thieves, similar to the agency supposed to monitor the rise of locust swarms; villages to be allowed to make the law according to their “dina” their own standards… and so on