AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - “The mayor's call on ministers to defect does not seem to have been followed: the majority of the offices are still open,” local sources of Fides reveal

Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) - “The appeal made by the Mayor of Antananarivo, Andry Rajoelina, to public workers not to go to work has not been followed by the grand majority of the population,” say Agenzia Fides sources from Radio Don Bosco in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, where recent days have seen intense conflict between Rajoelina and President Marc Ravalomanana (see Fides 27-28/1/2009). “A large part of the public offices remain open, as well as the schools and commerce. The situation is calm. Supporters of Rajoelina remain in the May 13 Square, however there are fewer of them now. The people also have to eat: continuing the strike when there are no other means for making a living is now impossible for a good deal of the workers,” our sources say. They also added that “we will have to wait until tomorrow to see what direction the events will take.”
On January 31, Rajoelina said he had asked Parliament to remove the President from office for having “violated the Constitution.” “Since the president and the government have not taken their responsibilities, I therefore proclaim that I will run all national affairs as of today,” the Mayor said in addressing a crowd of supporters. A request for the immediate resignation of the president will soon be filed with parliament in order to comply with the legal procedure.” Rajoelina was surrounded by representatives from several opposition parties, which have formed a coalition, with the goal of ousting Ravalomanana and creating a transitional government.
The Head of State, has replied saying that he is “still the President” and will do “whatever is necessary for the country's progress. We have the Minister of Justice and the Constitutional Court which I believe will carry out their duty,” making it clear that those who have incited the protests will be prosecuted (the protests which turned violent led to the deaths of 44 local authorities and 100 others, according to the US Ambassador on the island).
“I do not believe Rajoelina will be able to make headway in ousting the President, even with the backing of other opponents, as Parliament is practically entirely in favor of Ravalomanana,” Fides' sources explained.
The 12th Summit of the African Union (AU) began February 1 in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, and has made clear signs of caution to Rajoelina. “Any anti-constitutional change of power will be condemned,” said the President of the AU Commission, Jean Ping. “We have very clear principles, which always remain the same. For example, that trying to reach power with non-constitutional procedures is prohibited.”
Madagascar, which will host the next AU Summit in July, was respresented in Addis Ababa by Prime Minister Charles Rabemananjara, and not by its President, who is having to face the political crisis. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 2/2/2009)