Political parties: towards a code of good conduct as the presidential election approaches

A few months before the first round of the presidential election, political parties, civil society organizations and public institutions are gathering today for a session to present a proposal for a code of good conduct at the headquarters of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Stiftung (FES) in Ankadifotsy.

A dozen political parties such as Tiako i Madagasikara (TIM) of former President Marc Ravalomanana, HVM of former President Hery Rajaonarimampianina, MMM of former Minister Hajo Andrianainarivelo, Leadar Fanilo, AREMA of late Didier Ratsiraka, of the AVI of Norbert Lala Ratsirahonana, the TGV of the current president Rajoelina will participate in this event with other stakeholders such as the CENI, the European Union (EU), and civil society organizations : Transparency International Initiative-Madagascar (TI-IM), KMF-CNOE, EISA…

Since 2018, codes of good conduct have been developed before each election in Madagascar. For the last presidential election, on an initiative of the CFM (Council of Fampihavanana Malagasy) and civil society, a charter of good conduct and integrity of the candidates for a peaceful presidential election was made but it was largely boycotted by the candidates, just like that of the legislative elections in 2019.

A code of good conduct, because of the status of its writers and signatories, can indeed only remain a private document, of moral significance for the signatories and without binding legal character. It thus rests solely on the good faith, intellectual honesty and sense of responsibility of candidates and political parties like any code of ethics.