Madagascar: new agreement to “the crisis”, in May 2011 presidential
Posted on August 14, 2010 by robert
The current strong man from Madagascar, Rajoelina and all Malagasy parties on Friday signed a new agreement as “the crisis”, which includes holding a presidential election in May 2011, but it remains to be seen it will be implemented.
Under the terms of this “political agreement”, 99 political parties and Rajoelina committed “to working together and pooling their efforts in finding a way out of crisis.”
The agreement sets out a timetable for elections, which provides a national conference from August 30 to September 3, a constitutional referendum on November 17, the parliamentary elections March 16, 2011, and the first round of presidential elections on May 4 .
It also acknowledges the “non-application” of Rajoelina the presidential election of May 2011. The current strong man of Madagascar announced last May its intention not to participate in this election.
An earlier timing of the crisis, proposed last May by Rajoelina promised a constitutional referendum on August 12, parliamentary elections Sept. 30 and Nov. 26 presidential election.
This timetable was rejected outright by the opposition, which demands the implementation of agreements signed to end the crisis in 2009 under the aegis of the international community.
Following a popular movement led by Rajoelina, the elected President Marc Ravalomanana was ousted in March 2009, released by the army.
Ex-mayor of Antananarivo, Rajoelina been leading the country but without recognition of the international community which has suspended its aid crucial.
In late July, former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, head of international mediation which has been trying for months to reconcile the conflicting parties and the country out of crisis, went to Madagascar to try again to unlock situation.
No other result than to prolong indefinitely the crisis, the negotiations took place until now mainly between the four main political movements of the Big Island: Rajoelina supporters opposed to former presidents Ravalomanana, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy.
The signing of the agreement took place Friday in the Madagascan capital, the International Conference Centre Ivato, where the final negotiations were held since the beginning of the week.
The main political parties in Madagascar, including representatives of the four spheres of influence, are signatories.
Officials from the TGV Rajoelina TIM Ravalomanana, Ratsiraka’s AREMA of, and supporters of the former leader Albert Zafy initialed the document.
But the position of the three former heads of state, all of whom live in exile, remains as yet unknown.
Under the agreement, Rajoelina “will continue to serve as President of the transition until the inauguration of President of the IVth Republic.
The Prime Minister and the government “will be appointed from among persons proposed by a concerted political parties and associations (signatories).
The next national conference, expected in late August started, will be organized by the Malagasy civil society, “in conjunction” with the signatory parties and political associations, and will include the difficult task of agreeing on a new draft constitution.
The agreement on “the crisis also provides for the creation of an upper house, from the current authority of the High-HAT-transition which will be expanded, and a Lower House, Congress of transition” in which all parties will be represented.