Madagascar: POLITICAL POSITION – Razanamahasoa moves towards the opposition

After several months of suspense, Christine Razanamahasoa reveals her true position regarding current politics. She positions herself closer to the opposition than to her current colleagues in power.

Confirmed. This is the reality of Christine Razanamahasoa’s separation from the Coalition for the Presidential Majority (CMP). Last Saturday, the President of the Lower House gathered her close associates, collaborators, and some political actors. This meeting took place at the cafeteria of the National Assembly for the presentation of wishes and for the Deputy from Ambatofinandrahana to finally explain her political position.

Silent for several months on this position, the lady at the helm expressed herself freely on Saturday. Her speech sheds light on her shift towards the opposition camp. She criticizes the current situation of the country and, at the same time, admits to being deceived during the events of 2009. This earned her a thunderous applause from the entire cafeteria of Tsimbazaza, filled with parties, political groups, and associations affiliated with the opposition.

Two of the three main actors in the upcoming legislative elections were present. “Firaisankina,” represented by Deputy Joasy Eléonore, and the Collective of Malagasy, by former presidential candidate Jean Jacques Ratsietison. Both had speaking time and declared their support for the President of the National Assembly in her upcoming endeavors. Despite Christine Razanamahasoa stating that her invitation was for elected officials, no majority deputies were present at the scene.

Democratic Lockdown

Despite the absence of the four leaders, the FFKM is represented. As during the formation of the PAN/FFKM platform, Professor Raymond Ranjeva and General Désiré Ramakavelo are at Christine Razanamahasoa’s side.

“The current situation is not what was agreed fifteen years ago when we went to the Palais d’Ambohitsirohitra. At that time, Madagascar was among the poorest countries in the world. That is not at all what we were promised,” she explains in her speech. According to her, the deceit began from the start, but it was her naivety that led her to continue. Since forming a mediation platform with the FFKM, her relations with her peers from the TGV party and the IRD parliamentary group were tumultuous. Her weekend speech will not help matters.

Maharavo Ratolojanahary, Chief of Staff to the President of the Lower House, announced last week that holding elections is not necessarily the solution to the country’s ills. As for the main interested party, she prefers to remain silent on this point. However, the lady at the helm expresses doubts about the amount of the mandatory deposit for parliamentary candidates. For her, this exorbitant amount can be a source of democratic lockdown. She is struck by the calls from some participants in the Saturday event declaring that elections are not yet a good idea. She also continues to support the idea that the country does not have a system problem. “It’s the man who is the problem,” she asserts.

Ravo Andriantsalama