Rajoelina down but not out

Anti-government protesters gathered on 4 February in Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, in support of the former mayor of the city, Andry Rajeolina, following his dismissal in the aftermath of demonstrations in which 68 people have been killed.



The government replaced Rajoelina on 3 February with an interim official, but Rajoelina has contested this move. At a press conference he told reporters, "Antananarivo will not support this decision. There is no valid reason to sack me."



Hundreds of his supporters blocked roads in the Malagasy capital on 4 February before moving on to the city hall where Rajoelina announced his own choice of mayor.



The demonstrations remained calm, but Rajoelina had earlier warned that people, including foreigners, should stay off the streets of Antananarivo.



President stands firm



Addressing the crowd, Rajoelina reiterated his plans to move forward with installing a transitional government on 7 February if President Marc Ravalomanana refuses to step down. The former mayor plans to lead the transitional government in the run-up to

presidential elections scheduled to take place in 2011.



Rajoelina has accused the government of failing Madagascar's poor and has branded the president a dictator, but his attempts to petition the High Constitutional Court to remove the president from his post have proved unsuccessful so far.



According to a statement released by the court, it can only confirm that the president has been removed from his post when both the senate and parliament have started the impeachment process, and when the High Court of Justice has announced the president's removal. "The competence of the Constitutional Court is limited to confirming the

vacancy of the president of the republic," said the statement.



As the bitter struggle for power between Rajoelina and Ravalomanana deepens, Antananarivo's residents are left facing the possibility of months of unrest.



"Nothing is over yet. Rajoelina's impatience may have restored the president's fragile popularity for now, but the people of Madagascar still have issues with the government," one observer told IRIN. "The people have become opportunists and will use any circumstances to protest against the regime."



The government has appointed Guy Rivo Randrianarisoa to carry on with the administration and management of the Antananarivo municipality. He is a former secretary general of the municipality, and was a special advisor to Rajoelina when the young mayor took power in 2007.



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