Marc Ravalomanana (Re)conquers Antananarivo

Marc Ravalomanana has announced his candidacy for mayor of Antananarivo, making the race for the next municipal elections in the capital interesting. It is certain that other names will appear on the list of candidates between now and the deadline for submitting applications on September 15, but so far this is the only candidate with serious status who is ready to leave. Before him, two positioning announcements have been made so far: Rinah Rakotomanga launched her campaign and Gascar Fenosoa launched Campaign to propose candidates for municipal elections. None of them are a match for Marc Ravalomanana, for obvious reasons. On the other hand, we will be curious to see which candidate will ally with the regime to try to check and balance and be the next one in charge of the allocation of funds. basin In the lower neighborhood.

« Ramos »: A glorious record as mayor…

In the history of Antananarivo since the early 2000s, only Marc Ravalomanana was able to achieve a positive record during his term as mayor (1999-2002). The restoration of the street between Lake Anosi and the College of Saint Michel using asphalt with a 20-year guarantee using German technology, the redevelopment of Anosibe and Andota Penaca, the improvement of the municipal budget, the proper collection of garbage, a certain beautification of the capital and, above all, the confidence of the citizens through the citizen fundraising called “Ezaka Fanarenana an’Antananarivo Renivohitra” (FAR), etc. This initiative was also taken by Andry Rajoelina after he became mayor, but the results were far less than those of Marc Ravalomanana.

Of course, he also had his share of broken promises (the legendary market) and controversial decisions (destroying houses to widen certain roads), but in general, none of his successors matched his record. Neither did Andry Rajoelina, whose only exploits in the capital were copying and pasting the typical Hollywood sign on the Ampamarinana hill and laying tiles in the tunnels of Antananarivo. His wife, Lalao Ravalomanana, was not a great councillor either, especially since the central government placed a permanent stick between his legs. Especially Naina Andrianantsitohaina, whose campaign for mayor still attracts voters’ idea that it is necessary to have a mayor who is in line with power after Lalao Ravalomanana’s tenure (2015-2020): disappointment and hope coexist. The renowned captain of industry was “pulled” into government before he became mayor to avoid having to explain his impressive record.

So what are the chances of Marc Ravalomanana returning to the capital? a priorithey are important. Since leaving office in 2009, the candidates of the Malagasy One Party, which he leads, have always performed well in legislative elections, repeatedly receiving the support of more than half of the voters. This dynamic was even strengthened in the legislative elections of May 2024, when Thiem clearly showed himself to be the leading party in the capital. Marc Ravalomanana may well want to surf this dynamic, especially because he leaves behind the memory of a dynamic, efficient mayor and, above all, someone who had the courage to take unpopular decisions, when necessary, in the interest of the capital. All his successors allowed the anarchy to continue, fearing that the necessary harsh and unpopular measures would bring people to the streets. As for the current president of the Special Delegation, Richard Ramanambitana, appointed last March, he has been absent for several months, which has aroused suspicion on social networks.

…and a frying pan.

“Yes, but” we still can’t help but say. Will the Marc Ravalomanana of 2024 have the same energy and courage as the Ravalomanana of 1999? In addition, the mistakes he made during his presidency for the benefit of corporate interests over the years (exemptions, the damming of rice fields on the causeway, etc.) have also seriously damaged the image of a champion of good governance that he likes to decorate himself with. The future will tell us whether the people of Antananarivo have forgiven him. In 2020, Andry Rajoelina’s candidate lost the seat in the City Hall, which marked the loss of control of the capital by Marc Ravalomanana. However, the dynamics of the last legislative elections show that the trend has reversed. The upward trend began in the last presidential elections, when he received 12% of the votes without lifting a finger due to the boycott. Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko came in second place after taking his national tour Mihava Tourleading by only 2.3%. If Marc Ravalomanana had not endorsed the boycott, the outcome of the 2023 presidential election would undoubtedly have been different.

Tim decided to go it alone in the Antananarivo municipal elections, rather than putting himself under the banner of the Firaisankina coalition. This is understandable, since the other parties of this coalition do not have much influence in the capital. However, it is a shame for this symbol to fail to put him forward as the single candidate representing the opposition. One more point: does Antananarivo City Hall now have the means to realize its ambitions in terms of budget, equipment and resources? Because without this, the record of the next mayor, whoever it is, will only be that of the previous one.

Do Marc Ravalomanana and Timothy have the power to change the dynamics of the presidential and legislative elections? In the eyes of an increasingly important critical group inside the capital, “Ramos” represents the last bastion against the authoritarian brutality of the current power that does whatever it takes, including and especially in the electoral process. When the transparency and fairness of the elections are questioned and discussed, and the only link that ensures the stability of the regime is brutal repression, Marc Ravalomanana can take advantage of the growing discontent and frustration around him, and propaganda can no longer camouflage.