The National Assembly reconvenes tomorrow for an extraordinary session. This unscheduled meeting comes at a time when the lower house is engulfed in political turmoil. Deputies will begin the extraordinary parliamentary session in an atmosphere of uncertainty.

UNDER PRESSURE. It is in this context that the National Assembly will sit in extraordinary session starting tomorrow. This session stems from a convocation decree adopted by the Council of Ministers on July 7.

The extraordinary session was held at the request of the deputies themselves. The Constitution stipulates that "the National Assembly is convened in extraordinary session, on a determined agenda, by decree of the President of the Republic adopted in Council of Ministers, either at the initiative of the Prime Minister, or at the request of an absolute majority of the members of the National Assembly."

However, the calendar and agenda for this impromptu lower house session were only published on Friday. Behind the scenes, officials explained that the institution was absorbed by preparations for the plenary assembly of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum. The event was scheduled to take place in Antananarivo from August 22-29. Last week, however, it was announced that the event had been cancelled.

The Forum is to be relocated to another country, though no new destination has been officially confirmed. This cancellation could explain the decision to hold the extraordinary session. Freed from hosting the SADC event, the lower house can proceed with parliamentary work, in accordance with the convocation decree.

STAKES

Beyond this calendar-related explanation, the session comes at a particularly sensitive time for the Tsimbazaza institution. It could also carry political weight, as speculation swirls about the future of the National Assembly and its permanent bureau. Since the youth consultation at the Ivato International Conference Centre in late July, calls for dissolving the lower house have returned persistently.

This demand appears in the opening lines of the resolution from the youth consultation. The proposal even achieved unanimous support from participants. In a statement posted on social media over the weekend, members of the Association of Dynamic Students of Madagascar Universities (Assedu-Mada) reaffirmed this call for dissolution of the Tsimbazaza institution.

Added to calls for dissolving the lower house are calls for the resignation or removal of its president, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, by young Gen Z activists. Recently, whispers suggest the permanent bureau is also in the crosshairs. Seeking to establish themselves as a new political force, independent deputies and dissidents from "Isika rehetra miaraka amin'i Andry Rajoelina" (Irmar) have gathered within a new political platform.

The objective of this political platform, called "Vovonan'ny fihavaozan'i Madagasikara" (VFM), is to be a full participant in ongoing political consultations for possible political dialogue. Within the National Assembly, many fear this political dialogue could result in dissolving the institution in favor of a transitional parliamentary entity. To some extent, the VFM also aims to politically defend the lower house by pledging allegiance to the Refoundation government.

During a closed-door session outside parliamentary session on August 11, VFM deputies and Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko worked to reassure each other about the institution's future, as well as that of its president and permanent bureau. It is in this climate that the extraordinary session begins. Beyond constitutional obligation or timing, the parliamentary work beginning tomorrow could have at stake the very existence of the lower house in its current configuration.

PUBLIC INFORMATION LAW ABSENT FROM AGENDA

Seven texts are on the agenda of the National Assembly's extraordinary session, according to the institution's communication published Friday. The bill on access to public information (LAICP) is not among them. This text, which should implement the right to access information enshrined in the Constitution, has been demanded for twenty years by civil society. It is meant to strengthen the legal arsenal against corruption and related offenses. Already scheduled and presented for a vote in plenary session...