Tuesday, March 7, fifteen civil society organizations met to challenge citizens and authorities about their concerns about the upcoming elections, including the presidential election at the end of the year. Budget at half mast, calendar not fixed, almost total absence of communication about the communal and municipal elections supposed to take place before the presidential election… Facing the press, they listed a series of changes to be made to avoid ” a new crisis “.
With our correspondent in Antananarivo, Sarah Tetaud
” We approach the election year without the serenity necessary for its smooth running warned the spokeswoman for the fifteen signatory NGOs from the outset. Among the solutions put forward to defuse the existing hotbeds of tension, they propose amending the electoral laws to improve them. A recommendation repeated for years, explains Tsimihipa Andriamazavarivo, coordinator of the NGO Tolotsoa, an organization dedicated to the development and promotion of democracy:
” During the 2013 and 2018 elections, we noticed the shortcomings of the law, in the sense that, for example, our electoral law lays down principles, but this same law does not provide for sanctions for those who do not respect these principles. . This paves the way for a general feeling of impunity. It’s a bit of a last chance cry. Each year, each parliamentary session is an opportunity to make these changes, to have elections that are more transparent, inclusive and accepted by all. »
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Civil society is also calling on the FFKM, or the “Ecumenical Council of Christian Churches” in French, to mediate, starting now. Tsimihipa Andriamazavarivo resumes:
” Historically, the FFKM has always played a role in easing tensions. And it would be more ideal if we did that before any post-election unrest or conflict. To prevent, which is always better than cure. We ask them to create this space for dialogue, so as to perhaps point out the subjects of dissension and allow, in fine, that these future elections achieve unanimity between all the parties. »
A dialogue, insists civil society, which must complement the ongoing process, and not delay or block the holding of the said elections.
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