Rédaction Africa Links 24 with lexpress
Published on 2024-03-20 02:50:00
| Voters are called to the polls on May 29. |
Political headquarters take their time to designate their standard-bearers for the upcoming legislative elections. This is a sign that the choice of candidates is crucial in order to hope to win the maximum number of seats in the National Assembly.
The majority, nothing but the majority. This is the objective of the political entities that will field candidates in the upcoming legislative elections. To secure the maximum number of seats and assert themselves in numbers in the Tsimbazaza institution, the choice of standard-bearers will be decisive. This explains why political headquarters are taking so much time to reflect.
The period for submitting candidate files opens on May 28. So far, however, no political entity has finalized the list of one hundred and sixty-three candidates they will present on the starting line. One of the most anticipated actors in the upcoming electoral contest, the Presidential Majority Coalition (CMP), officially presented itself on Monday. The ruling camp plans to field “a single candidate” in each of the one hundred and twenty electoral districts.
The CMP is probably one of the only political entities capable of fielding one hundred and sixty-three deputy candidates. Its standard-bearers will clearly be the candidates to beat. Just a few days before the start of the candidate filing period, however, the list of those who will wear the orange bib is not yet known. According to rumors, the Coalition would have a wide choice. Aspiring deputies are jostling at the gates of the Arena Ivandry, the presidential camp’s headquarters.
However, there will not be room for everyone. At first glance, the Oranges do not want to make a mistake in their casting. According to the statement read on Monday, their candidates must meet “seven criteria”. These include loyalty to the President of the Republic, and integrity. The CMP has until May 27, the day before the opening of the candidate filing period, to finalize its list of candidates.
The legislative elections are local elections. This implies that beyond political affiliation, the choice of candidate is crucial. The electoral experience in the Great Island shows that voters vote for a candidate, that is, for a person. Political ideas or programs come afterwards. This reality is even more striking for local elections, such as the deputyship.
Bipolarization
This grassroots reality explains why the CMP includes among the criteria for selecting its candidates notoriety and a proven social commitment in their respective districts. Moreover, it is not enough to find candidates. The standard-bearer must also have a well-trained and combative campaign team. A team where each member must also be appreciated by the local population. In addition, the necessary human resources will be added to be delegates to the polling stations.
The subject is sometimes taboo, but the candidate must also have the necessary logistical and financial means. Certainly, political entities will support their standard-bearers. However, the candidate for a seat in the National Assembly must also contribute to his campaign treasury. In addition to the holders of power, the opposition front is facing the same headache.
The “Firaisankina” platform, which brings together five political entities that fielded candidates in the last presidential election, seems to be in the best position to be the main challenger to the CMP. It officially announced its creation during the last week of February. Since then, it has been announcing the names of its standard-bearers in the different electoral districts. So far, however, the opposition platform is far from finalizing its list of one hundred and sixty-three deputy candidates.
While the major political players are taking their time to think, aspiring deputies are already engaging in pre-campaigning. Tours and political activities that they are hammering with advertorials. Probably in the hope of being noticed and selected in the list of candidates from one camp or another. Indeed, the evolution of the situation tends to lead to a bipolarization of the political arena, at least in the perspective of the legislative elections.
Furthermore, as in every legislative election, independent candidates intend to shake up the established order. The political agitations that preceded the presidential election gave former political figures the opportunity to return to the saddle. Former ministers, former senators, or former deputies, they are counting on the legislative elections to make a definitive return under the spotlights. Most of them could run as independents. The goal is to play as free electrons and flit at the whim of “solicitations” once elected.
Aspiring deputies who will not be chosen as standard-bearers of the major political players could also swell the ranks of independent candidates. Independents, indeed, could be the big winners of a possible casting error by the heavyweights of the political arena. An eventual loophole that could also be exploited by the Malagasy Collective. The other opposition coalition led by former presidential candidates.
Garry Fabrice Ranaivoson
