Antananarivo, April 25, 2019 (AFP)
Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina on Thursday postponed Saturday's referendum on changing the constitution, to do away with the country's Senate and give more powers to the regions.
The decision to put back the vote, which had been due to take place on the same day as legislative elections, was taken following objections from the country's highest court.
The president agreed to delay "because we respect the law. As per the explanations of the Constitutional High Court we must await the establishment of the National Assembly before proceeding to the revision of the constitution", presidency director of communications Rina Rakotomanga said on Facebook.
Rajoelina made both abolishing the Senate and devolving more powers from the centre part of his campaign platform in the run-up to his election in December.
"Unfortunately effective decentralisation... will have to wait," he said on his Facebook page.
The presidency said earlier that having the two votes on the same day was designed to cut the "exorbitant costs" of holding them separately.
Rajoelina first ruled from 2009 until 2014 after he was installed by the army when then president Marc Ravalomanana was ousted following violent protests.
In his inaugural address Rajoelina pledged to fight corruption in the Indian Ocean island nation, which is a former French colony.
The current constitution was introduced by Rajoelina in 2010 during his first term as president.
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Sumber : AFP
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