Christine Razanamahasoa with opposition deputies, last Saturday
In a final decision, the High Constitutional Court ruled: Christine Razanamahasoa and Herimanana Razafimahefa lose their parliamentary mandate. Judgments No. 05-HCC/AR and No. 04-HCC/AR, published on March 28, 2024, sealed the fate of these two political figures, once influential within the presidential camp. They risk being ineligible.
As was to be expected, Christine Razanamahasoa and Herimanana Razafimahefa lose their parliamentary mandate, following the decision of the high constitutional court which was published last Thursday. In judgment n°05-HCC/AR and judgment n°04-HCC/AR, all published on March 28, 2024, the constitutional judges decided to end the parliamentary mandate of these two former figures of the presidential camp. Christine Razanamahasoa and Herimanana Razafimahefa flirted with the opposition and the IRD, the political group with which they won in the legislative and senatorial elections, requested their dismissal from the High Constitutional Court. The two parliamentarians both took positions considered affronts within their own political parties. Christine Razanamahasoa, president of the National Assembly, attempted to postpone last November’s presidential election, while Herimanana Razafimahefa, former president of the Senate, publicly questioned the legitimacy of the ongoing electoral process.
Insufficient time
These actions aroused the ire of the presidential camp, in particular the IRD, the political group to which Razanamahasoa and Razafimahefa were affiliated. Hence the initiative to request their forfeiture from the High Constitutional Court. The petition against Herimanana Razafimahefa was filed on October 17, 2023 by the President of the Senate. That of Christine Razanamahasoa, on the other hand, was initiated on March 26 by MP Paul Bert Velontsara, president of the IRD parliamentary group in the National Assembly. Christine Razanamahasoa’s reaction to this decline was quick. She contested the procedure, arguing that it was “illegal” and highlighting the insufficient time to prepare her defense. In addition, “the complexity of the elements to study and prepare for this case which requires substantial time, in particular to gather all the supporting documents and evidence necessary for its defense” continues this career magistrate and former minister of justice. . She came to Ambohidahy last Thursday, but did not want to enter the courtroom in which the trial on her case should take place.
Contradiction
The initiatives taken by Christine Razanamahasoa since last year have drawn criticism from supporters of the Republic. She is accused of “treachery” by all the languages which, in fact, wanted her departure from the majority in the National Assembly. And according to the High Constitutional Court, in its judgment n°05-HCC/AR of March 28, 2024, “the fact for the Razanamahasoa MP Christine Harijaona to initiate the establishment of a dialogue and mediation platform which aimed to postpone the presidential election and her initiative to refer the matter to the High Court in order to give force enforceable to the resolution published by this platform on November 9, 2023 tending to postpone the presidential election by using her function as President of the National Assembly contradicts the line of conduct of the parliamentary group “Isika Rehetra Miaraka Amin’i Andry Rajoelina » (IRD) to which she is affiliated ». For this purpose, “The acts committed by deputy Razanamahasoa Christine Harijaona constitute a flagrant violation of the line of conduct of the parliamentary group “We are all together with Andry Rajoelina”pronounce the constitutional judges.
A danger
This platform for dialogue and mediation was established under the leadership of the President of the National Assembly, with the effective support of the Ecumenical Council of Christian Churches. Different personalities from the intelligentsia have joined the initiative and openly support this platform. “The composition of the dialogue and mediation platform and the actions undertaken by it reveal that it is a political force which opposes the holding of the presidential election, the process of which has already been committed, and to the candidacy supported by the parliamentary group “Isika Rehetra Miaraka Amin’i Andry Rajoelina” (IRD)” notes the High Constitutional Court. Which therefore contributed to the request for forfeiture initiated by the IRD and which personally targeted Christine Razanamahasoa. The “deviations” in the conduct of the President of the National Assembly from the line adopted by the majority, “reflect a real deviation from the initial commitment, endanger not only the cohesion and integrity of their political group, but above all its political position is part of an approach contrary to the Constitution, thus potentially endangering the political stability and democracy in Madagascar » defends the IRD.
Mutiny
As for the case of Herimanana Razafimahefa, “his seditious remarks calling citizens to revolt and inciting the Army to mutiny as well as his actions tending to obstruct the electoral process, a process by which democracy is exercised and evaluated in the country, Senator RAZAFIMAHEFA Herimanana deviated from the line of conduct of the Isika Rehetra Miaraka amin’i Andry Rajoelina parliamentary group to which he belongs, without valid reason. pronounce the constitutional judges in judgment no. 04-HCC/AR of March 28, 2024 concerning the request for the disqualification of this former President of the Senate. He also lost his parliamentary mandate and then gave way to Sylvain Rabetsaroana.
Rija R.
The article HCC verdicts: Christine Razanamahasoa and Herimanana Razafimahefa, stripped of their parliamentary mandates appeared first on Midi Madagasikara.
