Colonel Randrianirina met with Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission, Thursday evening in Brussels. Madagascar's electoral deadlines were among the main topics discussed.
Elections were at the heart of discussions between Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, Head of State, and Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission (EU), Thursday evening in Brussels. The meeting also covered other axes of cooperation between the island nation and the continental organization. However, the electoral deadlines that must conclude the current exceptional political sequence have become an unavoidable subject.
According to the meeting report published by the Refoundation of the Republic presidency, the European official reaffirmed the EU's availability to support Madagascar on electoral matters. In response, according to information from the presidential institution, the occupant of Iavoloha indicated that the country especially expects support and expertise in electoral matters and financial assistance.
The senior officer sought to use this Brussels visit to reassure the EU about the political progress of the Refoundation. According to the presidency statement, "the president of the Refoundation took this opportunity to describe to the European Commission vice-president the main points of the timeline already submitted to SADC [Southern African Development Community] in February." Colonel Randrianirina highlighted the national consultation entering its operational phase, explaining the process starting from Fokontany to the national level. The presidency adds that the officer indicated that electoral governance reform is also being conducted in parallel with national consultation.
National consultation for "Refoundation of the Republic" and electoral governance are therefore the two main transition projects. Both processes converge on electoral deadlines before end of 2027, leading to constitutional order restoration. The timeline submitted to SADC provides for organizing a referendum or constitutional election between May and July 2027, then the presidential election before December 2027.
Upon returning from the SADC Summit in August, Colonel Randrianirina even declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni) should be ready to organize an election in July 2027, a forecast based on the duration of the ongoing electoral list overhaul.
However, the schedule planned by the Council of Christian Churches of Madagascar (FFKM) could disrupt the Refoundation timeline. The ecclesiastical institution has fallen behind in organizing consultation. During the operational phase launch, it indicated that resolutions will be made public after May 2027, significantly reducing the margin for organizing the first ballot scheduled between May and July that same year.
Consultation resolutions will serve as reference for drafting constitutional projects to submit to voters. Invited on TV5 Monde Thursday, Justice Minister Fanirisoa Ernaivo indicated that the first ballot will be the referendum or constitutional election. Moreover, electoral governance reform parallel to national consultation makes reading the constitutional order restoration path difficult.
The Head of State concluded consultations on electoral preparations before departing for Europe, aiming to accelerate the march toward elections. Political and civil entities, as well as Defense and Security Forces, who participated submitted recommendations for improving the electoral process. These will likely serve as basis for reforms. However, one point participants agreed on is Ceni reform, despite it currently overseeing electoral list overhaul and apparently organizing 2027 elections. A question remains: between consultation participants and those joining national consultation, whose voice will prevail?