Madagascar’s president suspicious of ‘corruption’ in vote to have him dismissed

MADAGASCAN President Hery Rajaonarimampianina yesterday challenged the legality of a parliamentary vote to dismiss him and said the country needed stability to avoid a return to years of crisis.

Lawmakers voted on Tuesday to remove him for alleged constitutional violations and incompetence, in a move that threatened to revive political chaos that erupted after a coup in 2009.

Madagascar’s Constitutional Court will now decide whether the impeachment process can go ahead. “I want to tell the people that I’m still here, your leaders are still working for you,” Rajaonarimampianina said in a televised address to the nation.

“Many are asking questions about what happened to the national assembly over the impeachment. I am concerned about due process and respect for transparency.

“There is a suspicion of corruption.”

Rajaonarimampianina, 56, alleged that although 125 lawmakers had apparently voted, only 80 were present in parliament. The motion was backed by 121 of the votes -- easily clearing the two-thirds majority required for his dismissal.

The president added ruefully that he had always refused to “hand-out” unwarranted gifts such as 4x4 vehicles to lawmakers.

Rajaonarimampianina, a trained accountant, came to power in the country’s 2013 elections, vowing to end turmoil after his predecessor, Marc Ravalomanana, was ousted in a 2009 coup.

He promised a better life for inhabitants of one of the world’s poorest countries, but opposition to his rule has grown recently.

His critics say he has failed to deliver on his economic programme and accuse him of stalling on the establishment of a high court and promised reforms. Yesterday, a group of MPs took their petition to have Rajaonarimampianina dismissed to the high court in Antananarivo.

The vote was greeted with applause from many lawmakers, but some quickly alleged it had been ridden with irregularities. – Reuters