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Madagascar prime minister announces resignation
ANTANANARIVO, June 4, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Madagascar’s prime minister
announced his resignation on Monday in the first step towards the naming of a
“consensus” premier to resolve a political crisis sparked by controversial
electoral reforms.
Madagascar has been rocked by violent protests since April 21 that
initially sought to oppose the new laws the opposition said were crafted to
bar their candidates from participating in elections planned for later this
year.
The Constitutional Court has ordered President Rajaonarimampianina to form
a government of national unity with a “consensus prime minister” to avert a
full-blown crisis. For that to happen, the current government was required to
resign and the president was ordered to name a new prime minister by June 12.
“I will tender my resignation to the president today. As a statesman, I
cannot be an obstacle to the life of the nation,” Olivier Mahafaly
Solonandrasana told a press briefing.
“I resign willingly and with happiness. I have no regrets today and I can
leave with my head held high.”
“I will leave this magnificent palace, (but) I tell you this is not
‘goodbye’,” he added without giving details of his future plans.
No successor to Solonandrasana has yet been named.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1340 hrs