Madagascar – Once again two PMs!

If you are getting a strong sense of déjà vu, then it is entirely understandable. (See the previous post here.)

Madagascar seems to be making a habit of having two PMs.

Jeune Afrique reports that Marc Ravalomanana, the ousted president of Madagascar, has appointed a new prime minister – the legal one, according to the former president at least. The new PM is Manandafy Rakotonirina.

Former (or current, depending on what you will) President Ravalomanana has been taking refuge in Swaziland. However, it is reported that in Tripoli on 10 April he signed a decree that nullified another decree that he signed on the day he ‘abdicated’ and that transfered power to his generals. (Remember that these generals then in turn quickly transfered power to Andry Rajoelina, the president of the High Authority for the Transition).

Anyway, President Ravalomanana’s decree is said to state that the previous decree was null and void and that power had never been legally transfered. He then signed another decree that nominated Prime Minister Rakotonirina. (I hope you’re paying attention. There will be a test later).

What this underlines is that President Ravalomanana made a big mistake when he transfered power to the junta as he was about to leave the country. On the assumption that the junta was friendly to him, which seems to be the case as they let him leave (and also because they seem to have been at least mildly coerced into signing over power to Rajoelina a few hours later), and, therefore, that Ravalomanana himself was not coerced into signing the decree, then transferring power was a major error. Even if the international community considers Rajoelina to have seized power in a coup, at least he has a veneer of legality in office, and all thanks to Ravalomanana.

In the meantime, there is a rumour that Ravalomanana is planning to return to Madagascar perhaps as early as Saturday.

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