By RFPosted on 27-11-2019Modified on 27-11-2019 at 02:04

Polling stations opened at 6 am local time. The country is preparing to renew its mayors and councilors in the 1695 municipalities of the island. Ten months after Andry Rajoelina took power and six months after legislative elections giving his party an absolute majority in the National Assembly, this election is again a test.

Once again, the IRD, the presidential party, has put the dishes in large to conquer voters: its many candidates, have achieved a lavish campaign, and therefore more noticeable, than their competitors.

At the same time, a number of malfunctions, starting with the frequent water cuts and power cuts observed throughout the country, have tarnished the image of the president and his team, who have trouble restoring the situation.

However, " the Malagasy citizen does not make the link between the election and the political record " notes a political scientist who requested anonymity. " With us, the vote sanction or satisfecit does not exist. In fact, the election campaign is the event, "he concludes.

For this election, the eyes are mainly focused on the capital, considered a stepping stone to the presidency. Five candidates compete against it; none was ever elected.

Tamatave, a port city where most goods are transported and the second largest city in the country, is also an issue. The mayor has been dismissed this year by his municipal councilors. To replace him, two favorites: the former mayor of the city today deputy, and a young rising figure of politics, resulting from civil society and entrepreneurship.

For the rest of the country, if the big cities were going into opposition, the impact at the national level would be minor.

But ultimately, the biggest opponent in this election, the third in less than a year , still risk this time to be abstention. In 2015, the election poll had mobilized only 35% of voters. A very weak figure for a so-called proximity election. " The craze is not there, people are jaded, disinterested, " complained several candidates of the capital ...

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