Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Legal News Blogs -> JURIST - The Paper Chase

Legal News

: JURIST - The Paper Chase

Madagascar court approves president installed by military

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The High Constitutional Court of Madagascar announced in a radio address Wednesday that it would accept the military's decision to install opposition leader Andry Rajoelina as the country's new president, one day after the resignation of President Marc Ravalomanana. The court approved the presidency of 34-year-old Rajoelina despite a requirement in Madagascar's constitution that the president be at least 40 years of age, declaring that his presidency would be legal for a maximum two-year term. Ravalomanana passed control of the government to the military Tuesday after months of violence in hopes it would run the nation under a military directorate. The military subsequently passed power to Rajoelina, a former mayor of Madagascar's capital city of Antananarivo who had led protests against Ravalomanana's government. Members of the African Union have since decried Rajoelina's appointment as unconstitutional, indicating that the move may amount to a coup. Madagascar has faced increasing political violence over the last two months leading to dozens of deaths. In February the police opened fire on anti-Ravalomanana demonstrators, killing 28. Rajoelina was fired as mayor of Antananarivo in late January following his declaration that he was in charge of Madagascar and his failed efforts to impeach Ravalomanana. Much of the public unrest stemmed from criticisms that Ravalomanana failed to alleviate poverty, as well as his unpopular decision to shut down a television station owned by Rajoelina after the station aired an interview with one of Ravalomanana's former adversaries.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 18, 2009 (boomark / email).