Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides) – Former Madagascar President Didier Ratsiraka announced that he will no longer participate in the talks taking place in an effort to help the country emerge from the crisis between the President of the transitional government, Andry Rajoelina, and the overthrown Head of State, Marc Ravalomanana. The announcement comes in spite of the fact that Ratsiraka's representatives were supposed to sign (on May 22), along with representatives of the other Malagasy leaders, a preliminary accord marking a path to emerge from the crisis.
The accord, which has still not been signed, calls for the participation of the former President and the President of the Transitional Authority in the upcoming Presidential elections, the date of which has not yet been established.
The draft of the accord calls for a “special status” to preserve the dignity and guarantee the security of the former Head of State and the creation of a “council of elders formed by former heads of state.” The negotiations are scheduled to continue on an undetermined date, to compile a “Letter of the Transition that should offer a reference guide for the no-fault management of the transition, which would hold free, just, equal and transparent elections, in the shortest amount of time possible.”
The Letter of the Transition should be ratified by 4 political movements that represent the former leaders Didier Ratsiraka, Albert Zafy, and Marc Ravalomanana, as well as the President of the Transitional Authority, Andry Rajoelina.
Ratsiraka has justified his resignation by trying to annul all judicial findings against him and his supporters as the condition. In 2002, Ratsiraka was forced to hand over power to Ravalomanana after a long struggle. Since then he has lived in exile in France. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 25/5/2009)
