2023-11-14 08:55:31
Two days before the first round of the presidential election, the Safidy Election Observatory shared its first analyzes in relation to the electoral context and the holding of the presidential elections yesterday during a press conference. She is already denouncing irregularities in the electoral process and warning that the favorable conditions for a free, fair and credible election are not met for the holding of the first round of the presidential election on November 16, 2023.
Several points were addressed in this report, including that of the electoral campaign. The use of public materials and resources to elect candidate No. 3, Andry Rajoelina, was blatant in 4.9% of the municipalities observed and the participation of public officials in the electoral campaign was noted in 25% of the municipalities. notably education personnel observed in 15.8% of municipalities, and Fokontany and Deputy Chiefs in 9.5% of municipalities, affirms the Observatory in its declaration.
The distribution of money by candidates or their supporters was recorded in 7.9% of the municipalities observed. The distribution of various articles or goods such as sunshades, t-shirts, bowls, food, school supplies was noted in 22.5% of the municipalities observed.
Safidy observers particularly noticed the use of the term “Tosika fameno/TF”, the monetary transfer dedicated to vulnerable households to bait voters. Because of these facts, 28.9% of observers believe that candidates spend exorbitant sums during electoral campaigns. The data analyzed by Safidy covers 670 municipalities spread across 117 districts until November 10, 2023, or 40.7% of the country’s municipalities.
With regard to the electoral administration, even if the Observatory appreciates certain efforts of the CENI, in particular the distribution of a large part of the electoral cards by the CENI and the establishment of electoral offices over time, it nevertheless regrets that most cards are illegible. Concerning the CENI budget, the Observatory notes a significant increase but highlights the lack of transparency on the use of funds. Furthermore, Safidy expresses his concerns about the insufficient training of polling station members with an impact on the conduct of the election. She is also concerned about the delivery of voting materials to the fokontany level in the absence of the necessary law enforcement. Regarding the audit of the electoral register, she deplores the absence of GPS coordinates for the polling stations.
Furthermore, the Observatory deplores the denial of justice and the refusal to take responsibility of the High Constitutional Court (HCC), of the civil jurisdiction, as well as of the government in relation to the application of article 42 of the Code of the nationality. She highlights her concerns about the hasty dismissal of the former Senate president following the revelation of the threats and pressure he suffered. Therefore, she calls on the Public Prosecutor’s Office to carry out the necessary investigations to confirm these allegations. She notes that the latest decisions of the HCC have generated a feeling of breakdown of the rule of law vis-à-vis the actors.
In addition, it criticizes the non-compliance of Ordinance No. 60-08 with the constitution and the democratic principle and emphasizes that the application of this order by the State under the pretext of preserving public order, restricts the civic and political space, constituting an attack on freedoms of opinion, expression and assembly.
Even if the Observatory considers that the favorable conditions for a free, fair and credible election are not met, it plans on election day to deploy 5,000 observers from 800 associations, NGOs, platforms and networks and to cover the 23 regions. , the 119 districts and 880 communes of the country.
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