The first ordinary parliamentary session of the year was officially closed yesterday without much fanfare. The 60 days of meetings of deputies and senators were, as usual, marked by a bewildering rate of absenteeism, particularly in the Lower House where some fifty or even twenty deputies out of the 151 elected attend the votes, reports and various works.
For the second time in a row, the face-to-face, consisting of question-and-answer sessions between the deputies and the government did not take place. Postponed several times, these were finally scheduled to be held last Thursday. The Prime Minister, Christian Ntsay, and his government responded, but in the end the deputies canceled the meeting. Christine Razanamahasoa defends herself, however, by saying that it is not the responsibility of the deputies if the question sessions with the government could not take place.
Due to a lack of quorum, the question of the files of indictment before the High Court of Justice (HCJ) of former ministers has once again been postponed. Ten former senior leaders, including former ministers, are implicated by complaints received and processed by the Special Commission of Indictment at the level of the National Assembly. Their files have been presented to the National Assembly since last year for a procedure with the HCJ but the quorum was not reached either at the time for the adoption of the proposals submitted by the committee in charge of the file.
The internal war between the members of the permanent bureau of the National Assembly also marked the end of this first parliamentary session. Proposals for resolutions aimed at dismissing the vice-president of the province of Fianarantsoa, Jean Brunelle Razafitsiandraofa, the vice-president of the province of Toliara, Jean Jacques Rabenirina, the quaestor Rabenirina Maminiaina Solondraibe, as well as the president of the Resources Commission strategies, Mohamad Ahmad were presented. The two-thirds vote in favor of impeachment of the Permanent Bureau members was not reached, so the impeachment was not successful. On the other hand, for the chairman of the Strategic Resources Commission, Mohamad Ahmad, a simple majority was sufficient and the deputy Ravonty Tam Téon Luc was elected to replace him.
The second ordinary session of parliament will take place in October. A session which will be devoted in particular to the adoption of the 2024 finance law. A bill for the reform of the nationality code should also arise, it is in preparation according to Christine Razanamahasoa. Since the disclosure of President Andry Rajoelina’s dual nationality, the current nationality code has generated a lot of debate, in particular article 42 which speaks of the forfeiture of nationality. An article considered obsolete by the strong supporters of the president.
