The prime minister, a supporter of President Andry Rajoelina, was appointed in the lead-up to a presidential election, and opposition parties in Madagascar have blasted what they call a “institutional coup”
10 of the 13 presidential candidates claimed in a letter to the electoral authorities that Rajoelina and his cronies had dictated the court decisions that gave Christian Ntsay control of the island in the Indian Ocean in order to help the president in the November election.
The signatories, who included two previous presidents, said that “the powers (that be)…carried out a real institutional coup with the aim of putting the Prime Minister in charge of the state during the presidential election period in order to manipulate the results for their candidate.”
On November 9, voters in Madagascar, one of the world’s poorest nations despite having abundant natural resources, go to the polls to choose a new president.
Rajoelina, 49, submitted his resignation on Saturday in accordance with the law so that he may seek reelection.
The role was meant to be taken over by the President of the Senate, but he rejected for “personal reasons,” leaving a “collegial government” led by Ntsay in charge.
The opposition was incensed by the decision, which was upheld by the nation’s highest court, which over the weekend also rejected requests to have Rajoelina’s candidacy ruled invalid due to his dual French citizenship.
“The renunciation made by the President of the Senate is not provided for anywhere in the Constitution,” the letter stated.
Bias charges were rejected by the Constitutional Court’s chief.
“The Senate President resigned from his position. We cannot compel him to assume leadership, Florent Rakotoarisoa told AFP, adding that the decision was legal and was made to “ensure the continuity of the State.”