Madagascar’s Rajoelina dissolves parliament amid escalating protests

ByEnigma 808

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina dissolved the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, ramping up tensions with youth-led protesters and the military, forcing him to flee the island. A decree posted on Facebook said he consulted with the National Assembly and Senate, but its legality remains unclear.

Rajoelina, speaking from an undisclosed location, refused to resign despite weeks of protests calling for his ouster. Sources say he fled the country on Sunday aboard a French military plane. He claimed dissolving the assembly was necessary to restore order, but opposition leaders disputed the decree’s validity, saying they weren’t consulted.

Protests erupted in September over shortages and corruption, growing into a wider revolt. Thousands protested on Tuesday, waving Malagasy flags and anti-Rajoelina banners. Meanwhile, France urged respect for constitutional order while acknowledging the youth’s frustrations.

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    Besides writing and being a content creator, Enigma 808 sometimes likes to watch paint dry on walls, listening to ASMR while timing snails racing. Such is life.