Ratsiraka convenes legislature in Madagascar

SABC 05.05.2002

Didier Ratsiraka, Madagascar's long-time ruler, has convened a special session of parliament for tomorrow to coincide with the swearing into office of his rival in a long-running power struggle. Ratsiraka has urged the National Assembly and Senate to meet at Mahajanga in the northwest of the politically divided island for a debate on how to "re-establish social peace and national concord".

The legislative gathering will coincide with the swearing-in ceremony in the capital Antananarivo of Marc Ravalomanana, who was last week officially declared the winner of a presidential election in December. The National Assembly has also been called to hold its next ordinary sitting in Antananarivo on Tuesday.

Since the poll, the Indian Ocean nation has been increasingly and sometimes violently split between backers of Ravalomanana, the popular mayor of the capital, and Ratsiraka loyalists. It has two rival governments. Last week, a visiting delegation from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) left the country without managing to sort out the imbroglio. Ratsiraka's decree, made available today, follows a cabinet meeting in Toamasina, the main east coast port where he fell back with his government after Ravalomanana took hold of the capital early in March.

The National Assembly, elected in May 1998, has 150 members, 62 of whom belong to Ratsiraka's Arema party. About 60 members of parliament support Ravalomanana and others, elected as independents, have announced readiness to rally to him. Eighty-nine of the 90 senators in the upper house of parliament support Ratsiraka.

In breach of a reconciliation pact signed by the rival leaders at talks in Senegal on April 18, Ratsiraka has refused to lift a blockade of Antananarivo, which has put a stranglehold on the highland city for more than two months. Instead, his supporters have strengthened their actions, which include erecting roadblocks and blowing up bridges.

Governors of four of the country's provinces, who support Ratsiraka, have proclaimed "independence" since the High Constitutional Court declared, after a recount, that Ravolomanana had won the December 16 first round of presidential elections outright with 51,46% of the votes. Ratsiraka, who has held power for all but five years since 1975, has said he does not recognise the court Didier Ratsiraka, Madagascar's long-time ruler, has convened a special session of parliament for tomorrow to coincide with the swearing into office of his rival in a long-running power struggle. Ratsiraka has urged the National Assembly and Senate to meet at Mahajanga in the northwest of the politically divided island for a debate on how to "re-establish social peace and national concord".

The legislative gathering will coincide with the swearing-in ceremony in the capital Antananarivo of Marc Ravalomanana, who was last week officially declared the winner of a presidential election in December. The National Assembly has also been called to hold its next ordinary sitting in Antananarivo on Tuesday.

Since the poll, the Indian Ocean nation has been increasingly and sometimes violently split between backers of Ravalomanana, the popular mayor of the capital, and Ratsiraka loyalists. It has two rival governments. Last week, a visiting delegation from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) left the country without managing to sort out the imbroglio. Ratsiraka's decree, made available today, follows a cabinet meeting in Toamasina, the main east coast port where he fell back with his government after Ravalomanana took hold of the capital early in March.

The National Assenbly

The National Assembly, elected in May 1998, has 150 members, 62 of whom belong to Ratsiraka's Arema party. About 60 members of parliament support Ravalomanana and others, elected as independents, have announced readiness to rally to him. Eighty-nine of the 90 senators in the upper house of parliament support Ratsiraka.

In breach of a reconciliation pact signed by the rival leaders at talks in Senegal on April 18, Ratsiraka has refused to lift a blockade of Antananarivo, which has put a stranglehold on the highland city for more than two months. Instead, his supporters have strengthened their actions, which include erecting roadblocks and blowing up bridges.

Governors of four of the country's provinces, who support Ratsiraka, have proclaimed "independence" since the High Constitutional Court declared, after a recount, that Ravolomanana had won the December 16 first round of presidential elections outright with 51,46% of the votes. Ratsiraka, who has held power for all but five years since 1975, has said he does not recognise the court. - Sapa-AFP