Here is the English translation of the interview of President Andry Rajoelina made by Christophe Boisvivier, for Radio France International (RFI), on 16th May, 2011. The Big explanation. Because communication means explanation, explanation.
RFIÂ : Mr President, good morning.
Andry Rajoelina : Good morning.
RFI : You have power but your regime is not acknowledged by the international community. Resolution is in a free and transparent presidential election. Big question is to know who will be able to come. Yourself, will you be candidate?
Andry Rajoelina : In the dispositions of the Road map and Constitution, personally speaking, nothing prevents me from introducing myself in the next presidential elections. This is a thing. Who could come on elections? Oh well , every Malagasy citizens who are more than 35 years old and who are not condemned.
RFI : Then you say: nothing prevents you from introducing you. One year ago, on Rfi, you had declared : I would not be candidate for the next election. I take solemn commitment.
Andry Rajoelina : Exactly. It was on May 12th, 2010. I made the statement solemn as what I do not serve to come in future presidential elections for the upper interest of the Nation. And during my speech, I specified well as what I took my responsibility but I wait that the international Community takes his. But, until today's day, the international Community did not take his commitments. Therefore, it means that today I am not any more linked by this announcement because the international community accompanied in no way Madagascar, all that is development in Madagascar. We survived by our own ways. You know, we were suspended by the international community during two years. But we honoured our debts in relation to the countries which punished us.
RFI : Therefore if you do not feel more linked by your promise of last year, it would mean that you will be candidate then? No?
Andry Rajoelina : Listen, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Therefore, me, at opportune instant, I am going to announce my candidacy.
RFIÂ : You have not took your decision yet?
Andry Rajoelina : Not yet. Today, what is important, it is the decision of Sadc for validation and accompaniment, precisely, of Madagascar, for the organization of these elections first of all. A decision which they (Leaders of State members of Sadc) should take in some days. That is to say May 20th more precisely.
RFI : You are young person, you are 36 years old. Why not to abandon this year and to wait for the next election in five years?
Andry Rajoelina : I am a man who is really enlivened of courage and creed, firm belief for the development of Madagascar. Therefore, I know that I must contribute it, and I know that I would be elected president of the republic of Madagascar, that it is for elections to come or in five years.
RFI : You said, soon, that to be candidate, it was necessary to be citizen who was not condemned. Your precursor, Mark Ravalomanana who was condemned by malagasy justice, could be granted amnesty to be able to come?
Andry Rajoelina : You know, when the malagasy people claimed (the) social justice, the ancient president answered by weapon. Therefore, it is the justice which cut. Today it is condemned by the acts which he made. It is necessary to restrict amnesty.
RFI : In spite of ongoing debate in front of the Parliament, there will not be amnesty for mister Ravalomanana?
Andry Rajoelina : In the international rules, all that is war crimes, murder, are not amnistiables.
RFI : In Ivory Coast, the isolation of the candidate Ouattara caused a crisis of more than ten years. By moving aside the candidate Ravalomanana do not you risk plunging the country into a long-lived crisis?
Andry Rajoelina : I do not think that. Now, Madagascar is a new generation, it is the young persons who got up. We agree for forgiveness but we do not agree for impunity. Nobody has the right to kill his compatriots.
RFI : Then at the end of January, you marked a point. For the exit from crisis, the mozambican mediator, Leonardo Simao, floated the idea of a presidential election on which you could come. But it remains to persuade the South African Jacob Zuma. Verdict, perhaps, during the next summit of Sadc in Wndhoek. It is not earned with Jacob Zuma, is not it ?
Andry Rajoelina : Listen, there are questions which it would be necessary to put down in comparison with Sadc. And I think that they will know how to make good decision, on May 20th. It is not in interest of Sadc to prove their failure in the mediation of crisis in Madagascar. It is necessary that they withdraw lessons of the popular aspiration which wants to go earlier possible towards elections. It is necessary that SouthAfrica takes into account the aspiration of the malagasy people.
RFI : Therefore, you ask Jacob Zuma to understand you. If, in return, Jacob Zuma asks you to be more flexible and to agree, for instance, to meet Mark Ravalomanana, what you will answer?
Andry Rajoelina : The ancient president proved his bad faith. Today, everybody knows. Who want elections? Who want the development of Madagascar? And I think that other persons want simply situation to go rot on place and that there is really a lot of clashes in Madagascar.
RFI : Two years ago, the army played a key role in your arrival power. Does not your position remain fragile?
Andry Rajoelina : Today, the effectivity of power is throughout the territory. Therefore, the people validated actual regime as armed forces.
RFI : But there was a try of putsch really in last November?
Andry Rajoelina : There had been a try but which did not succeed. You know, some spitfires in armed forces, there was. But they did not go far. It means that they were not followed.
RFI : But there are upper officers who helped you to overturn Mark Ravalomanana, two years ago. Today are not you made to share power with them?
Andry Rajoelina : Share for every responsibility, naturally. For instance, there is the minister of the armed forces who is a military; the State secretary of gendarmerie is a military, and for every post office with responsibility, where the militaries should take these post offices, we named them to every post office corresponding to their knowledge.
RFIÂ : And you are made to handle carefully them what.
Andry Rajoelina : We handle carefully them.
RFIÂ : Thank you, Mr President.
The President Andry Rajoelina met the President Jacob Zuma, in Pretoria, on May 16th, 2011
Translation : Jeannot RAMAMBAZAFY