The president of the French National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Commission rejects the status of Paris emissary. He nonetheless assumes his desire to play a role as parliamentary liaison between Madagascar and France. French deputy Bruno Fuchs concluded his second stay in Madagascar with a press conference yesterday at Ambatomena.

Maintaining political contact is essentially the objective of Bruno Fuchs, president of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the French National Assembly. The parliamentarian concluded his stay in Madagascar yesterday with a press conference at the French embassy in Ambatomena. This is his second visit to the country in nine months.

The parliamentarian explains that the purpose of his visit is to recall the strength of relations uniting Madagascar and France. The idea is also to remind that, on the French side, "the position today is to build a partnership of a certain number of dimensions with the Malagasy state so that the partnership benefits the population quickly. We are still two friendly countries, partners, we have several reasons to find intelligent, effective and useful partnerships for the Malagasy population."

Beyond the bilateral framework alone, Bruno Fuchs also places his stay in the Great Island within a broader reflection on relations between Africa and Europe. In a world marked by competition between major powers and geographic blocs, he believes the two continents have an interest in building a common political and economic project.

"We must create a strong political project between the two continents to compete against the two major blocs of Asia and America. This is also the project behind my visits. Creating networks, partnerships so that this project takes shape," the parliamentarian states. This necessity takes on particular significance in Madagascar, which advocates all-around diplomacy, notably with Russian presence.

For the French deputy, Antananarivo is right to multiply its partners, as no single country can meet all its development needs. This competition should also push France to become "more competitive, more effective" and to evolve its practices. According to him, "denigration" constitutes a limit. Bruno Fuchs believes that competition between partners cannot justify resorting to disinformation or denigration campaigns aimed at weakening a competitor.

Neither emissary nor special envoy

"We cannot accept this kind of behavior," states deputy Fuchs. Returning to the bilateral framework, the parliamentarian's goal, to a certain extent, is to prevent the relationship between Madagascar and France from deteriorating, while the Great Island finds itself in a pivotal period politically and diplomatically. He believes France must remain present, not in a logic of exclusivity, but by proposing concrete and useful cooperation that responds to Malagasy concerns.

While he assumes his desire to play a role as political bridge between Madagascar and France, deputy Fuchs nonetheless rejects the hat of unofficial Élysée emissary. A reputation that certain national diplomatic sources attribute to him. He would be the one who facilitates the resumption of dialogue with a country with which France would be at odds. "No, let things be clear, I am not an emissary or special envoy," he replies, affirming he has his own agenda and fully enjoys his parliamentary freedom.

Nevertheless, he was the first French and European elected official to visit the Great Island in November 2025 and meet with the Refondation authorities. A few days later, a telephone exchange took place between Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, head of state, and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron. He explains that as a parliamentarian, particularly within the Foreign Affairs Commission, he maintains links with members of the French executive.

Bruno Fuchs also acknowledges that his previous visit, followed by exchanges he had upon his return to France, may have contributed to the rapprochement between the two heads of state. "There are certainly neighboring positions, so all the better if I could inspire. But I am not under orders. (...) Today, I say it again, I think yes, we must continue to strengthen partnerships that the population really needs," he adds, emphasizing that he has written no notes or reports.

The parliamentarian recalls that following his first visit to Madagascar, he had expressed the view that "it is useful and effective for the Malagasy population not to break with Madagascar and instead to move forward on a number of partnerships (...)". To hear him tell it, the determination affirmed by Colonel Randrianirina...