Madagascar’s President Marc Ravalomanana has dissolved his country’s National Assembly ahead of elections he said would be held by the end of September.
In a letter dated July 17 and addressed to the Constitutional Court, but only made public on Tuesday, Ravalomanana said Parliament no longer reflected national representation after the elimination of the autonomy of provinces under the new Constitution passed in April.
The decree takes effect on Thursday and the polls will be held 30 to 60 days after the dissolution, according to the court.
Ravalomanana, who was re-elected in December 2006, also said the country needed a fillip for national development. — Sapa-AFP