Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has dissolved the National Assembly in a decree posted on Facebook from an undisclosed location.
The move, announced on Tuesday, October 14, pre-empts a planned opposition-led vote to remove him from office amid the island nation’s escalating political crisis.
The opposition said it would start impeachment proceedings against him in parliament for “abandonment of post”.
The decree said the president had consulted with the leaders of the assembly and the Senate, but it was not immediately clear if the move had legal value.
Here’s the decree
Having regard to the Constitution, particularly Article 60;
After being informed by the Prime Minister and consulting the Presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate,
DECREES:
Article 1: In accordance with the provisions of Article 60 of the Constitution, the National Assembly is hereby dissolved.
Article 2: Due to the urgency of the matter, and in accordance with Articles 4 and 6, paragraph 2, of Ordinance No. 62-041 of September 19, 1962, relating to general provisions of domestic and private international law, this decree shall take immediate effect upon its publication through radio and/or television broadcast, regardless of its insertion in the Official Journal of the Republic.
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Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina Dissolves Parliament Ahead of Ouster Vote
Meanwhile, the leader of the opposition in parliament has stated that President Andry Rajoelina’s decree to dissolve the National Assembly — the lower house of parliament — is “not legally valid,” according to Reuters news agency.
“This decree is not legally valid… the President of the National Assembly says he was not consulted,” Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko was quoted as saying.
This comes after Rajoelina, in a defiant address to the nation from an undisclosed location on Monday, refused to step down despite weeks of Gen Z-led protests demanding his resignation and widespread defections within the army.
The 51-year-old president said he had fled the country in fear for his life following a military rebellion, in a speech broadcast on social media late on Monday, October 13.
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Rajoelina Speaks Out After Fleeing Madagascar Amid Military Revolt and Mass Protests
Rajoelina has faced weeks of Gen Z-led anti-government protests, which reached a critical point on Saturday when an elite military unit joined the demonstrations and called for the president and other ministers to step down.
That development prompted Rajoelina to declare that an illegal attempt to seize power was underway in the Indian Ocean nation, before he left the country.
“I was forced to find a safe place to protect my life,” Rajoelina said in his late-night speech, which was also scheduled to air on Madagascar Television but was delayed for hours after soldiers attempted to seize control of the state broadcaster’s buildings, according to the president’s office.
They were Rajoelina’s first public comments since the Capsat military unit turned against his government in an apparent coup and joined thousands of protesters rallying in a main square in the capital, Antananarivo, over the weekend.
Rajoelina called for dialogue “to find a way out of this situation” and urged that the constitution be respected. He did not reveal how he had left Madagascar or where he was, but reports claimed he had been flown out of the country on a French military plane.
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