Antananarivo — The Malagasy leader who seized power two months ago has signaled that he is willing to give up control of the government.
The Antananarivo newspaper, L'Express de Madagascar, reports that the head of Madagascar's transitional authority, Andry Rajoelina, has indicated that he will not stand as a candidate in the presidential elections scheduled for October 2010.
He made the announcement from the presidential palace at Lavoloha, outside Antananarivo, Madagascar, and to diplomats in the capital.
After briefing ambassadors, Rajoelina, the former mayor of Antananarivo, met members of the transitional authority (known by its French acronym, HAT) to whom he clearly stated: "My priority remains the institution that I head, not my candidacy for elections. My priority is to prepare the ground for the best contest [for elections]."
His announcement to diplomats was deliberately chosen as a way of assuring members of the international community who have been pressing for a solution to the country's problems.
There have been mixed reactions to the announcement in Madagascar. Those opposed to Rajoelina or supporting ousted president Marc Ravalomanana believe it is a sign of weakness on the part of the transitional authority. A former senator, Jean Louis Rakotoamboa, who also heads the political party Teza, says Rajoelina is under heavy pressure both internally and externally and that he is as a result incapable of governing the country.
But Julien Rebozza, a member of the transitional authority, says Rajoelina's decision is the action of a statesman who sticks to his promises.
For the international community, the news is a welcome indication that the transitional government will take a neutral position ahead of the election, guaranteeing a peaceful transition.
Read the original report in full in French
Translated from the original by Michael Tantoh.
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The International Communities must do something to help the democratization of the Island of Madagascar instead of letting it to sink in the danger of profound troubles. I wonder why they are skeptical to the people's willing to remove dictatorial leadership (Which usually lead most African countries but hide behind the false democratic election). This is the moment in which we want to see the IC to really the poor 70% of the population, just to help them to have their call to be heard and the wish to be realized. The commitment of the HAT has been so clear in preparing much more transparent elections and denunciation of any kind of authoritarian regime. So they deserve an ultimate recognition.
Are you saying that a coup d'etat is a proper transition of power?
And when there are new elections if outside power decide they don't like the outcome it's OK for another coup?
Is Madagascar to become an 'African' country where coups are a yearly event?