Monja Roindefo refuses to leave his Prime minister’s seat

Sacrificed by Andry Rajoelina and let down by his ministers, Monja Roindefo is going for a desperate ultimate attempt to retain, for a little while more, his government chief title. His lawyers have actually asked the State Council to cancell the decree appointing the new national unity Prime minister, Eugene Mangalaza, which, in itself, rules him out of the job on top of the transitional government. 

Monja Roindefo’s lawyers are adopting the same defence as that of their famous client. Andry Rajoelina is not entitled to appoint a new national unity Prime minister as long as the four mobilities have not signed the agreement. Monja Roindefo, therefore, considers that only his government is legal. As already having been in tight spots a few months ago, the Transition’s Prime minister had, then, asked the High Constitutional Court for an opinion about the possibility of his eviction. 

Ambohidahy had given satisfaction to Monja Roindefo who has been confirmed in his position. The HCC had estimated, at that time for the sake of the country’s stability, that the maintenance of both chiefs of the executive power, in the setting of the transition, was desirable. The Monima party’s Prime minister emphasized that this setting only changes when the new transition is completely established. Monja Roindefo confesses not to have the intention to eternally hold on to his seat; however he wants to remain on top of the government as long as necessary. 

It should be a matter of days. On which account would Monja Roindefo confront Andry Rajoelina and divide the Forces for Change? The former Prime minister of the transition would be specifically standing by the Maputo agreements’ failure, potentially caused by Marc Ravalomanana’s refusal to sign the agreements dealt in Antananarivo between the four mobilities. Without this signed consensus, Monja Roindefo pretends that only his government is legal. 

Transferring power to a rival from the Ratsiraka mobility whereas political negotiations have not yet come to a complete and successful end, is off the point. As far as Roindefo is concerned, the big mistake would be leaving Mahazoarivo too early, while the Maputo agreements, which are sacrificing him, have not yet come into force. He has stated, therefore, that all necessary measures would be taken, without any specification on their nature. 

As a sign of shooting up tensions over the eviction of the de facto transition’s Prime minister, security measures have been enhanced in Mahazoarivo. Monja Roindefo had come the first time with a heavily armed military unit, but was warmly welcomed by Charles Rabemananjara. Eugene Mangalaza will have to wait for while in order to be welcomed in the government chief’s fortress. Andry Rajoelina must reckon with far more than a simple order to remove Monja Roindefo from Mahazoarivo.