| Representatives of the candidates with members of the CED. |
A discreet start. The first day of the electoral campaign for the next municipal and communal elections on December 11 was rather calm in Mahajanga I.
Of the eight candidates in the running, half have already been able to carry out a pre-campaign. Field raids and door-to-door actions, at the fokontany level, were carried out during these few weeks by candidates No. 6 Patrick Raharimanana, No. 3 Rivo Rakotovao of the HVM, No. 5, Tia Solofomanga Heriniaina of the TGV party, and the No. 1 candidate from Pro Siteny, Fabien Rabezafy. The rest of the candidates remained silent during the pre-campaign.
However, late yesterday afternoon, sound-mobile vehicles belonging to the candidates began to invade the streets.
For their part, representatives of the District Electoral Commission (CED) of Mahajanga gave their final recommendations at the end of this campaign. Only candidates who have obtained the registration certificate issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni) will be able to engage in propaganda. Support committees must have a mandate from political parties or political organizations to be able to carry it out.
Caution
“The billboards with the respective numbers of the candidates, made available by the Ceni, are the only ones authorized to display the candidates' leaflets, posters or circulars. All private places are accessible to candidates, but their use is regulated. No propaganda will no longer be authorized on December 10. All requests for the organization of meetings will be submitted three days in advance, so they will no longer be accepted seventy-two hours before the municipal elections,” declares the provincial president of the CED, Arsène Razafindravoka.
A warning was also issued by the executive secretary of the Mahajanga CED. “Citizens will have to check their name in the electoral list and know their polling centers or polling station now. The collection of national identity cards and electoral cards by candidates or others is prohibited. Violators are exposed to legal proceedings and criminal sanctions. It is an act of corruption. We must therefore not give them electoral cards or CINs,” warns Mioty Andriamparany.
Those who have not been registered in the electoral list have until November 30 to file a complaint with the court of first instance.
Vero Andrianarisoa
