Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina on Thursday announced the government has decided to delay the referendum that was set to take place on May 27, the day of the legislative elections, due to an objection from the country’s highest judicial court, reported Africa News.
Rajoelina had called for a referendum on changing the constitution last week in order to do away with the country’s Senate and give more powers to the regions. The constitutional amendment project aimed at two points- first, the replacement of governors in place of regional chiefs and then the abolition of the Senate. The referendum on constitutional change was fixed to be held at the same time as the legislative election to cut the exorbitant costs of holding them separately.
The decision to postpone the referendum was taken after the High Constitutional Court said it believed that the draft text adopted should first be approved by the Parliament before being submitted to the vote of the population.
“We submit because we respect the law,” Rina Rakotomanga, communication director of the Malagasy head of state, explained on Facebook. “According to the explanations of the HCC (Constitutional High Court), we must wait for the establishment of the National Assembly before proceeding to the revision of the provisions of the Constitution.”
Meanwhile, former head of state and now opposition leader Marc Ravolamana has accused President Rajoelina of wanting to change the country’s supreme law against the will of the people. Ravalomanana said there should be one or two months wait after the installation of the National Assembly before putting such a referendum to voting.
Madagascar’s current constitution was adopted in 2010, under the transition presided over by Rajoelina during his first term as president, after the army ousted former President Ravalomanana.
