AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Constitutional referendum and elections announced

Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – A referendum will be held on November 17 to approve the new Constitution of Madagascar and on December 20, there will be municipal elections. The presidential elections are scheduled for May 2011. This is what was decided at the end of the national conference held in Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital, last week.
"The national conference was organized by a group of political leaders, along with several civil society organizations," Fides was told by a journalist at Don Bosco Radio in Antananarivo. “It was attended by delegates from all the districts and regions of the country, the representatives of various parties, and a part of civil society. Civil society groups were divided between those that recognized the national conference last week, which upheld the policy of the President of the Transitional Authority, Andry Rajoelina, and another group that opposes the President of the Transitional Authority and insists on organizing a second national conference.”
"The conference also attended by representatives of the 3 “mouvance” which refers to the three former Presidents: Marc Ravalomanana, Diedier Ratsiraka, and Albert Zafy. These three movements that had formed an alliance to oppose Rajoelina are actually divided among themselves. All three movements have, in fact, shown divisions. The factions have even participated in the national conference, although they are not allied to Rajoelina. These recent developments are due to the power struggle occurring in light of the upcoming elections,” said our source.
The crisis in Madagascar seems to be reaching a turning point, after the failed attempt of several international conferences in trying to convince the protagonists of national politics to jointly manage the transition, in preparation for the upcoming elections. “The new constitution to be submitted to referendum must be presented by October 4. The mayors also have to resign two months before local elections, to avoid taking advantage of their powers for electoral purposes,” reports our source.
In Madagascar's political evolution, one must take into account the attitude of the international community, which as Fides sources point out "is not unanimous. The SADC (Southern African Development Community), which supports former President Ravalomanana, in exile in South Africa, is opposed the national conference. France seems to support the transition process led by Rajoelina, while the United States, which at first was opposed to the President of the Transition, has now decided to remain silent on the matter, also due to the fact that a new U.S. ambassador in Antananarivo is yet to be appointed.” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 09/24/2010)