The burning news in Madagascar is in the spotlight just one month before the presidential election scheduled for November 16. The outgoing president, Andry Rajoelina, candidate for his own succession, is at the heart of the debates and recently gave an exclusive interview to France 24 and RFI, from Antananarivo, the Malagasy capital.
The political and social tensions which have shaken the Big Island in the Indian Ocean for several weeks are at the center of concerns. Andry Rajoelina claims that his rivals are seeking to “prevent” the presidential vote from taking place because they know full well that he will be re-elected. According to him, they would prefer a transition rather than an election.
Among the points discussed during this interview, the dual nationality of Andry Rajoelina is debated. Some members of the opposition say his French nationality disqualifies him from the presidential race. However, the outgoing president believes that this debate is closed, because the High Constitutional Court ruled in his favor.
In response to accusations of an “institutional coup d’état” orchestrated by the government, Andry Rajoelina refutes these allegations and affirms that he has hidden nothing concerning his French nationality. He denounces a political use of this argument by the opposition.
Other accusations have been made against Andry Rajoelina, notably that of threatening the resigning president of the Senate to leave his post. The outgoing president completely denies these accusations and attributes these tensions within his party to a “fratricidal war”.
Finally, the revelations from European media on the use of illegal means of eavesdropping against opponents leave Andry Rajoelina indifferent. He affirms that all actions carried out by his government are within the legal framework and that the establishment of sophisticated means is necessary to protect the country from internal and external dangers.
During the interview, the outgoing president also defended his record, highlighting economic growth above the African average, while recognizing the shortcomings in the fight against poverty and access to water and electricity.
In conclusion, just one month before the presidential election in Madagascar, political tensions are at their peak. Andry Rajoelina, candidate for his own succession, affirms that his rivals seek to obstruct the electoral process, while he defends himself against any irregularity and awaits with confidence the holding of the vote. The situation remains tense and Madagascar’s political future is more uncertain than ever.