The march of the collective of 11 presidential candidates took place this Friday without clashes, despite the warning issued the day before by the Antananarivo police prefect. Angelo Ravelonarivo announced that these peaceful marches, which have become daily, will now be subject to an authorization regime and can only take place in “closed places”. These measures did not prevent opposition candidates and their supporters from taking to the streets of the capital this Friday.
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With our correspondent in Antananarivo, Pauline Le Troquier
It is 12 p.m. when the procession sets off from Antsakaviro, a district in the center of the capital. The security forces who have been prepositioned for more than an hour are already supervising the march, without preventing it.
Despite the measures announced by the Antananarivo police prefect the day before, Roland Ratsiraka, candidate no. 4, ensures that the movement of 11 candidates will continue in the streets.
“Raise your hands those who contest the prefect’s decision! It is now clear that this regime takes the side of candidate Andry Rajoelina, ladies and gentlemen. Have you ever seen the Orange supporters dispersed by tear gas canisters? Why is the right to hold a meeting granted only to candidate no. 3? [Andry Rajoelina] and his orange supporters? »
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Jean-Jacques Ratsietison, candidate no. 12, affirms that there is still no question of taking part in the campaign, due to the lack of a political agreement concluded with the interim government.
“We will not enter the campaign until the playing field is clear and cleaned. We know that if we enter the campaign now, Andry Rajoelina will be re-elected in the first round, since the fraud has already started throughout Madagascar. We’re not afraid, otherwise we wouldn’t be here! »
Friday evening, during a speech broadcast on his Facebook account, outgoing President Andry Rajoelina rejected the demands of his adversaries, namely the recomposition of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni) and the High Constitutional Court (HCC), which he considers “not legal”. He also insisted on the need for the opposing clan to embark on the electoral process.
From their side, the 11 candidates are calling for a further postponement of the first round of the presidential election. Already postponed by a week by decision of the High Constitutional Court, the vote is currently scheduled for November 16.