British Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned on June 22, 2026. Elected with an overwhelming majority less than two years earlier, he was forced out by his own MPs. This was because the country’s economy failed to take off, the cost of living continued to rise, and an angry public threatened to cost the MPs their seats in the next election.
In London, institutions function like clockwork. When a leader fails, their own party replaces them calmly—without violence, without military intervention, and without changing the Constitution. The Prime Minister departs, but the state continues to function normally. Power belongs to the office, not the individual.
The Illusion of Total Control
From a political, sociological, and anthropological perspective, this event holds an essential lesson for countries in search of their political identity, such as Madagascar. By the end of 2025, the Great Island was shaken by severe water and electricity outages. This collapse of basic services is not merely a technical problem; it is primarily a political, social, and human one.
When the Malagasy public authorities can no longer distribute wealth or ensure the daily needs of the people, the public withdraws its trust in the leader, and the entire system collapses. The British case serves as a reminder, as often seen in Madagascar, that a large majority of deputies in the National Assembly is not enough to guarantee stability. If the population suffers on a daily basis, a majority often secured through alliances or favors evaporates very quickly.
Parliamentary Barriers Against Violence
The various political systems in post-independence Madagascar have been characterized by the absence of a legal emergency exit in times of crisis. While in London, MPs can oust a leader to appease popular anger, here, parliamentary institutions are subordinated to the Head of State. Imprisoned by this system, the “representatives of the Republic” no longer challenge decisions; they accept them without flinching.
Since laws do not change the course of events, the youth of the “TikTok Generation” have only two tools left to make themselves heard: their smartphones and the streets. Juvenile anger destroys the symbols of power and creates a great void. In the political history of Madagascar, this void is always eventually filled, as nature abhors a vacuum.
Building Solid Institutions, Not Strongmen
The belief in a “saviour leader” and the refocusing of the governance system based on political calculations must end. True stability is not achieved by forbidding people from speaking or protesting—far from it. It is built by creating clear rules that allow for the proper management of crises. Yet, despite the recurrence of these crises, such ingenuity has always been lacking due to a lack of political will or a refusal to learn from the past.
By Laza Andrianirina, Titular Member of the Malagasy Academy
Captured & Published at: 2026-06-25 07:30:03 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/06/de-londres-antananarivo-quand-la-loi.html