Christian Ntsay dismisses the idea of ​​amending the law on elections

2023-05-25 10:23:36

The amendment of the law governing the elections is no longer possible, declared the Prime Minister, Christian Ntsay, yesterday, on the sidelines of his report of activities before the parliamentarians in Tsimbazaza. Making changes a few months before the date scheduled for the first round of the presidential election could have significant impacts and would totally change the situation. The idea was dismissed out of hand by the head of government, although a related project had already been announced a few days earlier.

Civil society organizations have already drawn up a “pre-proposal/draft” law, modifying certain provisions of Law No. 2018-008 relating to the general regime of elections and referendums. The objective was to guarantee the principle of equality between all candidates, to avoid excesses and abuses in the financing of electoral campaigns. For civil society, laying down clear and precise rules of the game in the context of the next elections was urgent and important.

Following the post-crisis elections in 2013, national and international election observation missions unanimously recommended the need to reform the legal framework for elections in Madagascar. In 2018, by adopting laws 2018-008 on the general system of elections and referendums, law 2018-009 on presidential elections and law 2018-010 on legislative elections, all of May 11, 2018, the parliament proceeded a complete overhaul of the legal framework for elections, in particular the organic laws of 2012.

Through this reform, civil society believes that the country has established as a principle: transparency, credibility, consensualism and conformity of the standards adopted with the constitution. If in general, the current legal framework forms a solid basis for the conduct of elections in accordance with democratic principles and international standards by guaranteeing fundamental freedoms, it is clear that there are still legal voids and significant gaps to be remedied, hence the requested amendments.

For the government, the answer is firm, we must make progress on the preparations for the elections, including the presidential one scheduled for November. The convocation of voters should take place around July 12, said Christian Ntsay.