The submission of applications for future mayors and municipal councilors is now finished in Madagascar. The case of Antananarivo, a city contested by the regime and the opposition, was particularly scrutinized. A surprise candidacy also created the event: that of the son of ex-president Marc Ravalomanana, prevented from running for old debts contested by the latter.
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With our correspondent in Antananarivo, Pauline Le Troquier
The suspense was tenuous until the end in Antananarivo. It was after dark that Harilala Ramanantsoa submitted her candidacy on behalf of Irmar, the ruling coalition. A renowned entrepreneur and independent candidate for the capital in 2015, she was named president of the special delegation (PDS) of Antananarivo a month ago, a temporary position to replace the elected mayor.
Facing her, more unexpectedly, Tojo Ravalomanana, propelled by his father, former president Marc Ravalomanana. For the country’s first opponent prevented from running, his 45-year-old younger son appears to be the ideal candidate. Beyond his surname dear to Tananarivians, will he be able, without experience in politics, to manage the country’s largest city? “ He will naturally rely on his father’s instructions [maire d’Antananarivo de 1999 à 2002] », replies a member of the political bureau of TIM, the party founded and chaired by Marc Ravalomanana.
Still, he will not be the only face of the opposition in the race. Tahina Razafinjoelina, former presidential candidate, intends to propose a “third way” by also running for city hall. He is supported by the Kôlekitifa an’ny Malagasy, the second force in a resolutely divided opposition.
According to the still provisional figures given by the Ceni on Thursday, around a hundred municipalities in the country are without candidates despite the one-week postponement to give latecomers time to submit their applications. A decision which had, precisely, been taken in the face of the low number of participants taking part in the race.