Madagascar: the withdrawal of the President of the Senate, an institutional putsch?

The President of the Senate refused to act as President of the Malagasy Republic, announced Andry Rajoelina, who therefore offered his position, for a few weeks, to his Prime Minister.

His name is Herimanana Razafimahefa. And, as President of the Senate, he should have become interim President of the Malagasy Republic, during the presidential campaign. But Razafimahefa ultimately decided not to accept this position, and it is the Malagasy Prime Minister who will therefore be interim president. Enough to upset the opposition. The former president and presidential candidate, Marc Ravalomanana, lost his temper yesterday, denouncing “an institutional coup d’état”. With, in the background, a question: why did the President of the Senate say he was incapable of acting in the interim?

This is indeed a situation that concerns the Tsara Tahafina party. “The President of the Senate has already spoken twice a few days ago, to say that he was ready to take his responsibilities. But he suddenly declares himself incapable of assuming this responsibility of which he was informed a few hours of the resignation of the President of the Republic? », asks Éléonore Johasy, national coordinator of the opposition party.

Is Andry Rajoelina in charge? In any case, this is the opinion of his detractors. This Monday, September 11, the outgoing president welcomed Razafimahefa's refusal to take over as interim president. “The President of the Senate made a wise decision in renouncing this function,” he explained, showing himself delighted that his Prime Minister, Christian Ntsay, would take over. Indeed, “it is entirely logical and normal for the Prime Minister to assume the interim role,” assures Rajoelina who also affirms that Razafimahefa made a decision voluntarily, and logical given that the latter “is not aware of the files previously handled.

It is now the question of the legality of the decision which is stirring the debate. “We are in too easy an interpretation of the constitutional texts in the sense that normally it should be the President of the Senate who takes over in the interim,” complains Tsara Tahafina. Not at all, believes the outgoing president: “It is not an institutional coup because it is an initiative consistent with the Constitution,” says Andry Rajoelina.

The opposition believes that the Prime Minister will play the part dictated by the president. “Will this government really guarantee the neutrality of the administration throughout the electoral process? Will it guarantee equal opportunities between all candidates? We ask ourselves the question. We will not stop calling on the government and the international community to address these concerns,” says the Hery Rajaonarimampianina clan, former president and candidate.