Domestic
Risk of Political Deadlock
Innovation through restructuring also includes the creation of the Technical Committee for National Dialogue. This represents the military junta's Executive's way of demonstrating its commitment to accelerating the country's political trajectory. The body, composed of 35 members divided into 15 colleges, bears the heavy responsibility of organizing the methodological and material architecture of the future national dialogue. Despite institutional messaging that promotes openness and inclusivity, examination of the structure chosen for this committee reveals apparent methodological weaknesses that could compromise its effectiveness. Indeed, while the committee includes representatives from executive authorities, religious denominations, traditional elders (raiamandreny ara-drazana), the private sector, youth movements, and organizations defending vulnerable persons, its division by formal quotas raises the crucial question of ground-level legitimacy. This is simply because there was no grassroots consultation in selecting societal representatives, for example. For the average citizen, this appointment is merely a form of parachuting from the executive, with all the attendant lack of credibility for future members, who will likely be paid by the State. A State that will also be judge and party, being strongly represented in the structure, where the direct presence of the Presidency of Refoundation and sovereignty ministries, such as Interior and Finance, could create ambiguity. In short, the Committee risks becoming simply an organ of institutional legitimation of what observers have always considered attempts by the refoundation regime to impose a pre-established format for what this national dialogue will be. Unless, of course, the executive guarantees real autonomy to civil society actors and adapts methodology to local realities. Failing that, the risk of a new political deadlock cannot be ruled out.
Source: Midi Madagasikara