WRITTEN QUESTION P-1182/02

by Marco Cappato (NI) to the Commission

(22 April 2002)

Subject: Worrying political situation on the island of Madagascar

Following the presidential election of 16 December 2001, which was called by Admiral Didier Ratsiraka, President of Madagascar since 1975, there have been reports from different sources of rigging of polls and falsification of returns from polling stations.

The opposition party has formally called for returns to be checked by the Madagascan High Constitutional Court and this request has been supported by the OAU (Organisation of African Unity). Representatives of AREMA, Ratsiraka's party, have rejected this request on the pretext that such checks would entail excessively lengthy procedures.

On 22 February 2002 the people of Madagascar declared Marc Ravalomanana new President of the Republic. In response to this, Admiral Didier Ratsiraka placed the capital, Antananarivo, under siege and blocked off all access routes.

What political and diplomatic measures has the European Union taken to seek to resolve the serious political crisis which has arisen on the island?

Is the Commission prepared to send to Madagascar a delegation of European observers who, in cooperation with OAU officials, could set up a tripartite commission comprising the EU, the OAU and Madagascan political forces to check the results of the December 2001 elections with a view to restoring democratic law and order on the island?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(28 May 2002)

The Commission is monitoring developments in Madagascar closely. It deplores the violence that has occurred in the aftermath of the December 2001 presidential election and has supported the mediation efforts of the Organisation of African Unity and of the United Nations to encourage the parties involved to enter into a democratic dialogue and to demonstrate moderation.

The Union has welcomed, in its declaration of 22 April 2002, the agreement signed by the two candidates in Dakar on 18 April 2002.

The two candidates agreed to a transitional reconciliation government and to a referendum, to be organised within six months with the help of the United Nations, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the Union and the international community, if no clear winner emerged from a recount of votes cast in the December 2001 presidential poll.

The Commission deplores that, notwithstanding the Dakar agreement, the confrontation continues. Marc Ravalomanana, declared on 29 April 2002 by the High Constitutional Court the winner of last December's disputed election after a recount, assumed the presidency on 6 May 2002, however the incumbent President rejected the High Constitutional Court ruling.

The Union declared on 8 May 2002 to remain convinced that only an agreement between the parties, and national reconciliation, will make it possible to resolve the present crisis and that the Dakar agreement remains the appropriate framework for the achievement of a solution.

The Union is prepared to offer political and technical support for the implementation of the objectives of the Dakar agreement in order to restore civilian peace and the principle of democracy and to find a political solution to the crisis. In this respect it welcomes the initiative of President Wade to organise a new meeting between the two leaders.

A solution of the crisis will enable the Union to continue implementing its assistance and co-operation programmes.