Madagascar PM, President fall out as island's political crisis deepens

By RIVONALA RAZAFISON in Antananarivo | 

Madagascar prime minister Jean-Omer Beriziky. RIVONALA RAZAFISON | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

Madagascar Prime Minister Jean-Omer Beriziky is under pressure to resign as political troubles precipitated by a 2009 coup on the Indian Ocean island deepened.

A July election expected to end the country's crisis is uncertain, and now supporters of current leader Andry Rajoelina have demanded Mr Beriziky leave over what they say is insubordination, even as the premier said he did not recognise the President's authority.

At a meeting between the Cabinet and the Parliament on Thursday, members of the Transitional Congress allied to Mr Rajoelina asked the consensual premier to resign, accusing him of repetitive infringements and rebellion against the President.

Mr Beriziky was also accused of allowing foreigners to freely interfere in the country’s internal affairs and of failing to perform his duties in government effectively.

His latest perceived infraction was his absence from the Ministers Council chaired by President Rajoelina at the state palace of Iavoloha on Wednesday, where he is said to have conducted another Cabinet meeting with some ministers at the state palace of Mahazoarivo.

'Internal crisis'

This has resulted in what the President termed as "institutional crisis" according to a statement from his Press Service.

In reaction, Mr Beriziky has said he would not attend any ministers council led by Mr Rajoelina as long as the President is a candidate in the presidential election in the election initially scheduled for July 24.

According to him, Mr Rajoelina has disregarded laws which provide that he resign at least 60 days before the election date.

Mr Rajoelina, 38, has so far refused to resign.

"If the President declared he is no longer a contestant for the next political race, I’m ready to return to the Ministers Councils," Mr Beriziky said.

"I have respected my own engagements towards the internationally-brokered roadmap [agreed in 2011] which remains my boss until further notice," he added.

External factors

The prime minister said he would only leave if mandated to do so by an institution with the authority.

"I’m ready to quit office if this is for the good of the nation," he told reporters at the end of the meeting at the Transitional Congress headquarters that is looking to resolve the crisis.

The consensual premier was appointed in 2011 during the implementation of a roadmap signed by various Malagasy stakeholders.
Even the President is unable to remove him until the end of the transition period, according to the roadmap which became Malagasy law last year.

On Wednesday, the country's interim government paved the way the postponement of the elections after a court found that external factors had derailed the poll preparations.

The suspension of election funding by major donors and the international rejection of three controversial presidential candidates, including Mr Rajoelina and former First Lady Lalao Ravalomana, would be ready by that date.