Rédaction Africa Links 24 with lexpress
Published on 2024-02-27 02:45:00
The electoral question should be among the topics to be discussed in the next political dialogue between the EU and the State. According to the EU ambassador, almost all European recommendations on elections are ignored. She calls for a dialogue with the State and the Ceni for their implementation, at least in part.
Still relevant. This is the situation of the recommendations issued by the European Union Electoral Observation Mission to improve the electoral process in Madagascar. Recommendations made after the 2018 presidential election. Also, the European Union delegation wants to start a “dialogue” with the government to see how these recommendations could be applied.
The progress and outcome of the November 16, 2023 presidential election were among the topics discussed by Isabelle Delattre Burger, the EU ambassador, during the press conference she held yesterday in Ankorondrano. “In any case, the recommendations of the 2018 mission are still relevant,” said the diplomat in response to a question from the press, drawing a comparison with the report of the three European electoral experts who followed the presidential race.
The report of the European experts was handed over to the government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni), said Ambassador Delattre Burger. “It is now up to the government to decide whether they want to make it public or not,” she said, adding, “but what I can emphasize is that they [EU electoral experts] had to note that many, if not almost all, recommendations proposed by the 2018 electoral mission had not been followed up.”
At first glance, Europe is not ready to give up. Especially with the upcoming legislative and municipal elections. According to Isabelle Delattre Burger, the EU could be prepared to make compromises on certain points.
Without effect. “What I wish is that we can soon start a real dialogue with the government and with the Ceni on the recommendations issued by the European Union experts. To see which ones will be taken up by the government… we still hope that some recommendations can resonate within the government with their desire to democratize the country,” said the European diplomat.
However, although Europe is willing to make concessions, “there are some more sensitive points than others to improve the electoral framework,” on which it could insist during the dialogue with the State. An example of these “sensitive subjects,” frequently raised by Ambassador Delattre Burger and reiterated yesterday, is the transparency of candidate’s electoral campaign funding. According to the diplomat, the debate on electoral recommendations will not affect “bilateral cooperation” between the EU and the Great Island.
Madagascar has just signed the Samoa agreement, replacing the Cotonou agreement, on February 13. This is the new economic, political, and development cooperation agreement between the EU and its partners. “In general, bilateral cooperation with Madagascar is not directly affected since we do not practice what is called ‘tied aid.’… We will not stop programs to punish Madagascar,” explains the European ambassador.
To conclude the question on electoral recommendations, Isabelle Delattre Burger adds, “in the Samoa agreement, there is no clause providing for a reduction in aid because the recommendations of the electoral experts’ mission are not followed. However, this is a subject that will necessarily be discussed with the government, especially during the political dialogue planned in the Samoa agreement, but not only.”
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