Its occurrence was not long in coming. And it was even more scathing because the decision cannot be appealed. After the invalidation of his candidacy by the Supreme Constitutional Court (HCC), on September 10th, Monja Roindefo Zafitsimivalo denounced an “unfair” decision, going so far as to question the legitimacy of the institution that excluded him from the presidential election race on September 9th. . November.
His request was rejected on the grounds that the deposit of 200 million Ar provided for in the government decree of 11 July 2023, taken on the initiative of the Prime Minister, Christian Ntsay, had not been paid. A provision that is called into question by the rejected candidate, who prefers to refer to the 2018 organic law.
“The carefree HCC independence from Ceni »
“There is, in the HCC's decision, in addition to bad faith, a failure to comply with the law in force”, said the man who was Andry Rajoelina's transition prime minister in 2009, during a very experimental press conference. “It is clear, in the organic law, that the value comes from a proposal from Ceni [Commission électorale nationale indépendante], and not the Ministry of the Interior, he argued. The HCC disregards CENI's independence, even calling into question the existence and privacy of this body in the management of the electoral process. »
Monja Roindefo Zafitsimivalo claims to have presented a check for 50 million AR, made payable to the Treasury Deposit and Consignment Fund. Based on the fact that CENI had, in the previous elections, set the deposit at AR 50 million, it therefore considers that it has fulfilled its obligations. He further insists that the HCC did not inform him of the problem before invalidating his request. The former Prime Minister also reported a possible referral to the authorities of the Economic Community of Southern African States (SADC).
Another reason for Roindefo Zafitsimivalo's anger towards the HCC: the High Court's decision to entrust Prime Minister Christian Ntsay with “current presidential powers” on an interim basis until the end of the electoral process. In accordance with the Constitution, having validated the candidacy of Andry Rajoelina, outgoing president, he returned to the President of the Senate to “assume the functions of internal head of state” during the vote. However, the latter gave up performing these functions, presenting “personal reasons” and preferring to give up his place to the Prime Minister. By accepting this state of affairs, the HCC is causing a “unilateral transitional change in the country”, denounces the former head of the transitional government.
Losing speed
Prevented from entering the presidential race, Monja Roindefo Zafitsimivalo hopes to continue to give her opinion in the debate. The head of the National Movement for the Independence of Madagascar (Monima), a historic group founded in 1958 by Monja Jaona – an anti-colonialist fighter who was notably at the forefront of the 1947 uprising against French colonists – launched an appeal for the mobilization of its activists.
But the party, losing influence, will still suffer from the invalidation of its champion's candidacy. Ahead of the imposed demonstration in front of the Ambohitsorohitra palace on February 7, 2009, which ended in a bloodbath, Roindefo Zafitsimivalo was appointed transitional prime minister a month later. But eight months later he was asked to give up his place to Eugène Mangalaza. His poor results in the 2013 presidential elections excluded him from the Malagasy political scene, in which he has been trying, since the beginning of 2021, to find a place. Difficultly. Will the HCC's decision mark the epilogue of the political career of the head of Monima ?
