Brussels, 28/08/2013 (Agence Europe) - The publication of the definitive list of the 33 candidates for the presidential election in Madagascar, and the adoption of a new electoral calendar enabling the holding of the presidential and parliamentary elections this year, has been hailed by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton as an important step towards the return to constitutional order. The first round of the presidential election is planned for 25 October 2013, and the second round, if it takes place, is planned for 20 December, at the same time as the parliamentary elections.
Ashton “urges all the Malagasy actors to comply with the ongoing process and to work together to respect this new electoral calendar and ensure the success of the elections”, says a statement put out by Ashton's spokesperson on 27 August.
Ashton congratulates the Malagasy actors who have managed to unblock the electoral process, as well as the African Union (AU) and the South African Development Community (SADC) for the relentless efforts of Joaquim Alberto Chissano, former president of Mozambique, and Ramtane Lamamra, the AU's commissioner for peace and security. Ashton also asserts the EU's commitment to support the electoral process “with a view to a return to constitutional order”. The political crisis has been going on in Madagascar since the coup d'état in 2009 which saw the overthrow of the president, Marc Ravalomanana, by Andry Rajoelina, the current transition president. Neither Andry Rajoelina, nor Ms L Ravalomanana, nor the former president M.D Ratsiraka will stand for election in the end. Their initial candidacies had been a source of great concern for the European Union (see EUROPE 10847). (AN/transl.fl)