The President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly rejects the status of Paris’s emissary. However, he acknowledges his desire to play a role as a parliamentary liaison between Madagascar and France.
Maintaining political contact is the core objective of Bruno Fuchs, President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the French National Assembly. The parliamentarian concluded his stay in Madagascar yesterday with a press conference at the French Embassy in Ambatomena. This marks his second visit to the country in nine months.
The parliamentarian explains that the purpose of his trip is to reiterate the strength of the relations uniting Madagascar and France. The idea is also to remind that, on the French side, “the position today is to build a multi-dimensional partnership with the Malagasy state so that the partnership quickly benefits the population. We are, after all, two friendly, partner countries; we have several reasons to find intelligent, effective, and useful partnerships for the Malagasy population.”
Beyond the bilateral framework, Bruno Fuchs also places his stay in the Great Island within a broader reflection on relations between Africa and Europe. In a world marked by competition between major powers and geographic blocs, he believes that both continents have an interest in building a common political and economic project.
“We must create a strong political project between the two continents to compete with the two major blocs, Asia and America. That is also the project behind my trips: to create networks and partnerships so that this project takes shape,” the parliamentarian asserts. This necessity takes on a particular dimension in Madagascar, which advocates for a multi-directional diplomacy, notably with the presence of Russia.
For the French deputy, Antananarivo is right to multiply its partners, as no country is able to meet all its development needs alone. This competition should also push France to become “more competitive, more efficient” and to evolve its practices. According to him, however, “denigration” constitutes a limit. Bruno Fuchs believes that competition between partners cannot justify the use of disinformation or smear campaigns aimed at weakening a competitor.
“We cannot accept this kind of behavior,” asserts Deputy Fuchs. Returning to the bilateral framework, the parliamentarian’s goal, to some extent, is not to let the relationship between Madagascar and France fray, as the Great Island is in a pivotal period politically and diplomatically. He believes that France must remain present, not in a logic of exclusivity, but by proposing concrete and useful cooperation that addresses the concerns of the Malagasy people.
While he assumes his desire to act as a political bridge between Madagascar and France, Deputy Fuchs rejects the title of unofficial emissary of the Élysée—a reputation attributed to him by some national diplomatic sources. He is rumored to be the one facilitating the resumption of dialogue with a country with which France might have had delicate relations. “No, let things be clear: I am not an emissary or a special envoy,” he retorts, affirming that he has his own agenda and fully enjoys his parliamentary freedom.
Nevertheless, he was the first French and European elected official to visit the Great Island in November 2025 and meet with the authorities of the Refoundation. A few days later, a telephone exchange took place between Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, Head of State, and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron. He explains that as a parliamentarian, especially within the Foreign Affairs Committee, he maintains ties with members of the French executive.
Bruno Fuchs also acknowledges that his previous visit, followed by the exchanges he had upon his return to France, may have contributed to the rapprochement between the two heads of state. “There are certainly similar positions, so it is good if I could inspire. But I am not on a mission. (…) Today, I repeat, I think that yes, we must continue to strengthen partnerships that the population really needs,” he adds, emphasizing that he has not written any notes or reports.
The parliamentarian recalls that at the end of his first visit to Madagascar, he expressed the opinion that “it is useful and effective for the Malagasy population not to cut ties with Madagascar and, on the contrary, to move forward on a certain number of partnerships (…).” According to him, the will expressed by Colonel Randrianirina “to respond to the aspirations formulated by the youth” had convinced him during his first visit to Madagascar. Having met him on Thursday, Bruno Fuchs states that, so far, the Head of State is sticking to this guideline.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-21 05:53:36 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/relations-bilaterales-bruno-fuchs-se.html