Opposition figure Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko has called the measure unlawful, saying the speaker of the National Assembly was not consulted
The president of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, has dissolved the National Assembly amid escalating tensions with youth-led protesters and alleged attempts by the military to oust him from office.
The move, announced Tuesday in a decree posted on the presidency’s Facebook page, came a day after Rajoelina fled the southern African country, reportedly under a deal with French President Emmanuel Macron.
“After informing the Prime Minister, and after consulting the Presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate… this decree shall enter into force immediately,” it stated.
Under Madagascar’s 2010 constitution, the president may dissolve the National Assembly after briefing the prime minister and consulting the heads of both chambers, with fresh elections to follow within 60 to 90 days.
The Indian Ocean nation has experienced unrest since September 25, when demonstrations under the ‘Gen Z Madagascar’ banner over crippling water and power cuts exploded into broader anger over poverty and corruption. Tensions escalated on Saturday when members of the elite CAPSAT military units joined the demonstrators, who issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding Rajoelina’s removal. In a statement on Sunday, Rajoelina described the events as an attempted power grab and denounced them as unconstitutional, urging “national forces” to safeguard the constitutional order.
Authorities said soldiers tried to seize state media buildings, forcing the suspension of a planned presidential address. Late on Monday, Rajoelina spoke from an undisclosed location and said he had found “a safe place” to protect his life. He called for dialogue and insisted the constitution be respected, but did not yield to pressure to step down.
Rajoelina dissolved his cabinet in late September and appointed a new prime minister in an effort to quell the protests.
His latest measure derails legislative efforts to open impeachment proceedings, a step some lawmakers had reportedly pursued since the crisis escalated. The dissolution could also reset the political chessboard in a country where the ruling camp lost its parliamentary majority last year.
Opposition figure Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko has called the dissolution unlawful, saying the speaker of the assembly was not consulted and accusing Rajoelina of violating constitutional norms, according to Reuters.
