For several weeks, public debate in Madagascar has been heating up over the future form of the State. Amidst legal red herrings and political grandstanding, this agitation is misleading public opinion while emboldening certain actors in outdated demands. A fundamental question remains: is this debate even timely?
How can we decently deliberate on the future of the Republic’s institutions when no constitutional text has even been drafted yet? The jurisprudence of the High Constitutional Court (HCC) has been crystal clear: we remain under the current Constitution, and constitutional bodies must continue their missions. Yet, a political faction is clamoring for the dissolution of these very institutions. One must ask: on what legal order do such demands rest, if not on a void?
Let us recall the facts. Decision No. 10 of the Court explicitly entrusted the military authorities with the task of organizing the presidential election within 60 days—and nothing else. This prerogative belongs exclusively to the President of the Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar (PRRM). If the latter has opened the door to political dialogue, it is for the sake of democratic consensus, not out of legal obligation. The final word rests with him. Therefore, claiming to organize a referendum before the presidential election is political contortion and a pure denial of the Court’s decisions.
The most serious issue lies in the methodical heresy being imposed on the country: wanting to reform electoral governance before adopting a Constitution. The inconsistency is summarized in a simple legal syllogism: The Constitution is the supreme norm that defines the nature of the State and electoral principles; reforming the electoral code today is like writing an instruction manual for a machine that does not yet exist. Any legislative reform conducted before the promulgation of the new fundamental law is legally void and politically irresponsible.
How can one claim to set the rules of the electoral game without knowing if Madagascar will be a parliamentary, presidential, or federal republic? It is time to return to institutional rigor. Let us not allow rear-guard political calculations to trample on the logic of law: the future of the Nation requires building the foundations before putting on the roof.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-28 06:24:08 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/madagascar-arretons-de-mettre-la.html