The article above relates political news in Madagascar, featuring Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, a candidate for the presidential election. Unlike the other members of the “Collective of 11” candidates, who decided to boycott the election, Randrianasoloniaiko chose to launch into the campaign. However, his decision was marked by a controversial statement regarding foreigners in Madagascar.
The deputy for Tuléar made a public outing during his first campaign meeting in Vohémar, in which he affirmed that foreigners from Madagascar had to be “sent back”. However, he later clarified that his remarks were only aimed at the outgoing president, Andry Rajoelina, who has a French passport, which, according to the opposition, disqualifies him from the presidential race.
Despite his decision to embark on the campaign, Randrianasoloniaiko claims not to abandon the demands of the “Collective of 11” and still supports their request to postpone the presidential election. He explains that he does not believe in empty chair politics and that he is ready to face Rajoelina in this election, even if he admits that the latter has control of the High Constitutional Court, the National Electoral Commission independent and of all state agents.
Candidate number 13 pledges not to let Rajoelina win without an opponent and wants to test the extent to which he can cheat when he has a potential opponent in front of him.
This news highlights the dissensions within the Malagasy opposition and the divergences in strategies adopted by the different candidates. On the one hand, the “Collective of 11” insists on the need to postpone the election, while Randrianasoloniaiko chooses to launch into the campaign while supporting the demands of the collective.
It remains to be seen how this situation will evolve and what impact it will have on the conduct of the presidential election in Madagascar. The stakes are high, because it concerns the direction of the country for the coming years. Malagasy voters will have to take into account the positions and actions of the different candidates before making their choice during the first round scheduled for November 16.
In conclusion, this political news in Madagascar highlights the different points of view and the divergences between the presidential candidates. Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, by choosing to embark on the campaign, adopts a different strategy from that of the rest of the “Collective of 11”. However, the candidate’s controversial remarks during his first meeting raise questions and require clarification from him. The presidential election is therefore causing great tension and the country is impatiently awaiting the outcome of this crucial vote.