The Malagasy political world has its eyes fixed on the December 11 election, which is of some importance to the government and the opposition. But for the moment, there is some confusion because of the difficulty experienced by the candidates in gathering the documents for the file to be submitted to the OVEC. Former President Marc Ravalomanana was the first to do so in Tana, but the others are struggling. They still have five days to meet the deadline imposed by the CENI. Firaisankina is up and running and has carried out a rigorous selection among all those who would like to run under its banner, but this is causing a stir among those who were not chosen. They are saying it loud and clear and have decided not to submit to what they consider to be a diktat. The press echoes all these protests, but the case that is currently making headlines is the decision of pro-Siteny MP Afakandro Christian not to accept the candidacy of HVM president Rivo Rakotovao in Majunga, considering it as a parachuting. Citizens are observing a cautious wait-and-see attitude in the face of these internal problems within the opposition platform; they are more concerned about the difficulties they encounter in their daily lives. They are oppressed by the increase in electricity and water cuts that Jirama is forced to operate and which will not stop anytime soon. The managers of the state company are aware of this, but the implementation of the recovery plan they are proposing will require a lot of financial and material resources.
International news has been marked by several important events that will condition the future of the planet. The increasingly explosive situation in the Middle East suggests that the hope for peace raised by the negotiations organized in Qatar and Egypt is fading. The resumption of the offensive by Russian forces against the Ukrainian army raises fears of the futility of the efforts deployed by Volodymyr Zelinski’s military leaders, who are clamoring for his Western allies to send long-range missiles. But it is the first debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump that has attracted the most attention from international opinion.
The Democratic candidate prepared at length for this first face-to-face with her Republican opponent. This debate is different from the one that took place in May when Joe Biden was still in the race for the presidential election. Donald Trump faced a very confident Kamala Harris. She did not let herself be thrown off by the attacks of her rival, who always kept his usual sullen look. She responded to his untruths with a consummate sense of repartee, sometimes adopting a mocking air in front of the seriousness with which he delivered them. She gradually gained the upper hand over him and the polls taken at the end of the debate confirmed that Donald Trump had been beaten by his rival. As usual, he boasted, saying that this was a performance he had never given before. However, he refused a new debate proposed by Kamala Harris.
In the Middle East, the Israeli army’s bombings continue to cause dozens of innocent civilian victims without Benjamin Netanyahu and his government showing the slightest remorse. The condemnations of the international community do nothing. They continue to say that it was Hamas fighters that they targeted and killed. No one knows how this situation will evolve. The escalation is here and the peace advocated by diplomats is no longer relevant.
In Europe, Russia is regaining the initiative it lost after the offensive of Ukrainian forces in Donbass. It has recaptured part of the territories previously taken by the Ukrainians. It has decided to retaliate heavily after the Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow. President Volodymyr Zelinski is asking the Europeans and the Americans to supply it with long-range missiles that will allow it to hit military targets inside Russian territory.
The world seems to be changing from one week to the next. The Middle East seems to be sliding little by little into an inextricable conflict, the Russian-Ukrainian front is returning to its previous situation, from the time when the lines were fixed. The American presidential campaign shows that common sense and moderation have regained the upper hand over excess and disproportion. The future of the world is perhaps being written at this moment.
Patrice RABE
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