A new parliamentary entity is taking shape at the National Assembly. Nearly eighty deputies have grouped together to exert influence on the political dialogue initiated by the Head of State and, above all, to prevent the dissolution of their institution.
Avoiding dissolution is the primary goal behind the maneuvers unfolding at the National Assembly since the beginning of the week. This stir began on Monday night with the announcement of the creation of a new political entity named “Vovonan’ny fihavaozan’i Madagasikara” (VFM).
According to the declaration read by Deputy Fanomezantsoa Andrianjanahary, Vice-President of the Lower House for the Fianarantsoa province, eighty deputies make up this new political entity. It is presented as a platform that, in addition to deputies, would bring together local elected officials and former officials. At first glance, the term “political platform” serves primarily to protect most VFM members from losing their parliamentary seats.
The Constitution prohibits deputies from changing parties or groups other than the one under which they were elected. In addition to independent deputies, those elected under the “Isika rehetra miaraka amin’i Andry Rajoelina” (Irmar) banner also make up the VFM. In Monday’s declaration, the new platform pledged allegiance to the Refoundation government, but the main idea is to form a political bloc to carry weight during the upcoming political dialogue.
VFM deputies held a closed-door meeting at the Tsimbazaza institution yesterday. As indicated by Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, President of the National Assembly, who led the meeting, the gathering aimed to report on his interview with the Head of State last week. Deputy Andrianjanahary confirmed that the political dialogue was one of the main topics discussed.
President Michaël Randrianirina has been conducting a series of consultations with political actors and entities to organize a political dialogue, a process parallel to the national consultation. The goal is to establish a peaceful political climate conducive to holding elections accepted by all. The head of the Lower House was received by the President at the Ambohitsorohitra State Palace last week.
Seeing so many deputies present at Tsimbazaza and meeting behind closed doors outside of a parliamentary session is rare, indicating that these elected officials view the situation as urgent. Behind the scenes, some admit that they are questioning the future of the National Assembly and agree that they must be full participants in the national dialogue rather than just suffering its consequences.
For VFM members, the immediate challenge is to provide a collective representation to avoid being left behind. “Most of us are independent deputies. Others left the Irmar ranks to support the current power. Individually and without a structure, we would have no weight,” one deputy acknowledged.
The common leitmotif is to defend the survival of the Lower House. The “Gen Z” movement remains firm in its demand for the dissolution of this institution, a demand reinforced by the resolution of the youth national consultation at the end of July. The dissolution of the Tsimbazaza institution was one of the points that received unanimous support from participants.
For the parliamentarians gathered within the new platform, the fear is that the political dialogue might go beyond seeking appeasement and lead to institutional restructuring. In this scenario, the National Assembly could be dissolved and replaced by a transitional parliamentary institution composed of various political forces, similar to the 2009-2013 Transition period. It remains to be seen whether this new platform will succeed in establishing itself as a key interlocutor in the political dialogue.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-12 06:23:52 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/assemblee-nationale-des-deputes-font.html