Madagascar's constitutional court rejects impeachment of president

Madagascar's High Constitutional Court (HCC) rejected parliament's bid to dismiss the President Hery Rajaonarimampianina, the HCC website said on Saturday.

"The demand of the parliament to impeach the president is received. The HCC rejects it because it is unfounded," the president of HCC Jean Eric Rakotoarisoa said at the HCC website.

The HCC ordered all institutions in the country to continue working as before.

It also asked all institutions to keep talking between them while respecting the independence of each institution.

Members of the parliament voted on May 26 to impeach the president, accusing him of "non respect of the constitution."

Rajaonarimampianina had challenged the validity of the impeachment, blaming his opponents for having bought the vote.

The parliament has 151 members, under Madagascar's constitution, the request should be voted by two-thirds of the members before being sent to the HCC which has the full right to judge it.

Madagascar has suffered political turmoil since 2009 when former President Marc Ravalomanana was ousted in a coup.

Rajaonarimampianina who came to power in January 2014 vows to end the political crisis plaguing the Indian Ocean country. Endi