Madagascar: The president of the National Assembly calls for the suspension of the presidential election

A statement made in consultation with the FFKM, the ecumenical council of Christian Churches, at the end of mediation lasting several days which comes after a week of high tensions and violence against opposition demonstrators.

In her statement read to the press this Thursday evening, Christine Razanamahasoa requested “the suspension of the presidential election scheduled for November 16 as well as the suspension of the electoral campaign and all public demonstrations”. What’s the goal? Allow real dialogue and seek a solution accepted by all.

This announcement echoes the request to cancel the election signed this morning by nearly 60 civil society organizations and syndicates.

“We all agree that the current elections are neither free, nor transparent, nor accepted by all, so they must be canceled”, they said.

The declaration of the former political ally of Andry Rajoelina, outgoing president, and Presidential candidate, should, in any case, delight the collective of 10 candidates who have always refused to enter the campaign, believing that the conditions for an election " democratic and transparent” were not met.

This position marks a new turning point in its relationship with the majority party IRD. Last December, the episode of the motion of censure against the Ntsay government had already marked the break between the President of the Republic, Andry Rajoelina, and the head of the National Assembly.

A rupture that has since been finalized. Three weeks ago, at the opening of the ordinary session, the president, who said she was listening to the voice of the people, then affirmed that the country “was at an impasse”.This statement has been seen as a total disavowal of the government, which has always refused to talk about an electoral crisis.

But what weight will this political declaration have? As a reminder, the suspension of a presidential election is not provided for in Malagasy law. To be effective, this request will have to await agreement from the government. Last month, the latter accepted, on the orders of the HCC, the postponement of the first round of the election by one week.

The president of the lower house invited all electoral stakeholders to a meeting tomorrow at 9 a.m. at the National Assembly.

@RFI.