Madagascar: Christian Ntsay, a non-partisan technocrat, appointed Prime Minister after court ruling

‘Madagascar is at a turning point in its march towards democracy. The Malagasy political class has shown that it has matured, and that the supreme interest of the Nation has won over all other considerations.’

The State Palace of Iavoloha echoed with these words of the President of the Republic, Hery Rajaonarimampianina, as he presented a new government led by Prime Minister Christian Ntsay.

This announcement came after a court ruling which required a consensus administration to resolve protests against new electoral reforms. These reforms, the opposition had said, were aimed at barring their candidates from running in elections scheduled to take place later this year.

The demonstrations – that rose to the point of demands for the President to step down – reached the Constitutional Court which ordered Rajaonarimampianina to form a government of national unity with a ‘consensus prime minister’ to avert a full-blown crisis.

The President had stated that it is a question of preserving social peace and, above all, of preventing Madagascar from falling into crisis. “This new Government comes under decision No. 18-HCC / 2003 of 25 May 2018 of the High Constitutional Court, since it comes from a dialogue between the various political actors. He will be responsible for leading Madagascar to transparent, inclusive presidential elections, the results of which will be accepted by all. This responsibility now rests with the entire Government, and the political class.’

He argued that “While the success of the presidential election is the main mission of this government, it cannot be ignored by the emergencies that successive governments have struggled to cope with. It will have the task of strengthening security throughout the territory, it will have to continue the difficult task of tackling the cost of living for the entire population, but it will also have to ensure the continuity of actions of development that all its predecessors initiated.

Speaking particularly to the Prime Minister, he said to him, “You are the one who has the heavy burden of ensuring that your government really works as a team and only considers the achievement of the objectives that are set for you. It will not be an easy task, but I also know that your personal commitment to the good of our Nation is flawless and that you are the man of the situation. ”

In closing, President Hery Rajaonarimampianina wished the members of the Government every success, and encouraged them to put the interests of the people and the country above all else.