Appointment of Madagascan new prime minister canceled by State Council

ANTANANARIVO, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The decree, announced by the transitional President Andry Rajoelina Saturday night, on the appointment of a consensus prime minister, Eugene Mangalaza, was canceled by the Madagascan State Council on Thursday.

Midi, a French-language daily, reported on Friday that the State Council, which is the Supreme Court for appeals against decisions taken by a public authority, canceled on Thursday the presidential decree on the appointment of Eugene Mangalaza, as prime minister. Mangalaza is a professor of philosophy from the political camp led by former president Didier Ratsiraka.

Rajoelina sacked his Prime Minister Monja Roindefo, appointed on Feb. 7, and named Mangalaza few hours after Roindefo announced on Saturday that he would not cede his post to anyone and he would run for the next presidential election.

The ministers also declared on Saturday by their spokesman, Gilbert Raharizatovo, who is the Minister of Cultures and Heritages, that they would receive no more orders from Roindefo and government decisions would be taken at a government council.

Though Roindefo said on Sunday that he would not remain forever in the prime minister seat, he asked the State Council last Monday to cancel the decree announced by Rajoelina on the appointment Mangalaza for a defect in form and procedure.

In the request sent to the State Council, Roindefo also wrote that "the designation of Rajoelina as president of the Transition is still pending until the leaders of the four political camps sign the Maputo agreements."

The main actors of the political crisis that has exploded last December in the country are namely the former Antananarivo mayor Andry Rajoelina and former presidents, Marc Ravalomanana, Didier Ratsiraka and Albert Zafy.

Besides Ravalomanana, the main political opponent of Rajoelina,it seems that Roindefo, which was the right arm of Rajoelina since Feb. 7, became a big obstacle for him.

Rajoelina has postponed indefinitely his trip to Geneva, Switzerland, scheduled for Thursday, because Ravalomanana has refused to go to sign with Rajoelina, Ratsiraka and Zafy an agreement on sharing of seats in government and other transitional institutions.

Ravalomanana has categorically refused any intention to leave the presidency of Madagascar, even the transition to Rajoelina.