the president of the National Assembly dismissed by the High Constitutional Court

2 mins

With our correspondent in Antananarivo, Pauline Le Troquier

In Madagascar, the break is complete between the President of the National Assembly and the presidential party. The ax fell after just 48 hours. To justify the forfeiture of her functions as a deputy, the Court points out, in the name of Article 72 of the Constitution, a “ blatant violation » from Christine Razanamahasoa of the line of conduct of her original party, the presidential party.

Already in November, the latter had been excluded after daring call for the annulment of the presidential election. More recently, this past Saturday March 22, the President of the National Assembly denounced “ extreme poverty ” in which ” the country is bogged down ” and claimed that it was a problem “ of men » and not structure.

A few hours before her sanction was known, Christine Razanamahasoa took care, in a letter submitted to the HCC, then in a statement made to the press immediately, to describe the disqualification procedure launched against her as “ illegal “.

In question, she assured, the time being granted to her to organize her defense: “ I was given 48 hours [pour présenter ma défense]. But outside the framework of electoral litigation, which in fact prescribes a time limit of 48 hours, the time limit provided for organizing a defense is thirty days. I confirm that this is an illegal procedure. Democracy is in danger! »

An argument dismissed straight away by the Court which considers in its final decision that the MP did not take the opportunity to present her defense. Thursday afternoon, the latter was to be heard during a public hearing at the HCC. To denounce what they consider to be a “ democratic drift ” And “ a relentlessness “, neither Christine Razanamahasoa nor her lawyer participated.