The matter of President Andry Rajoelina’s nationality has been referred to the courts. For the past two weeks, the disclosure on social networks of the Malagasy Head of State’s French naturalization decree has sparked controversy in the country and within the political class.
Yesterday, a complaint was lodged with the Antananarivo public prosecutor’s office, according to the president of the ADM Association (” action for the development of Madagascar “) and the RMDM diaspora opposition platform based in France.
ADM’s lawyer has filed a criminal complaint concerning offenses relating to the loss of Malagasy nationality. “We denounced the fact that President Andry Rajoelina had lost his nationality under articles 42 and 43 of the Nationality Code and that he had concealed it. “He, therefore, broke the law by standing in the elections”, maintains Fanirisoa Ernaivo, President of ADM and former President of the Madagascar Magistrates’ Union. “We have filed a complaint for treason, espionage, use of forgeries, and undermining State security”, adds the person who was also a candidate in the 2018 presidential elections.
Referring to article 131 of the Constitution, the President’s Chief of Staff, Romy Voos Andrianarisoa, pointed out that the President of the Republic is “subject only to the High Court of Justice” and that “he can only be impeached by the National Assembly. “Once again, we are witnessing a destabilization maneuver on the part of political actors who are afraid to face the ballot box if the President were to stand”, she continued.
The matter has not been referred to the High Constitutional Court, which can rule on whether or not the Head of State should be disqualified. Such a referral can be made by the heads of institutions or by a vote of two-thirds of the deputies.