by Eric Laperozy and Holitian Randrianasolo
ANTANANARIVO, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Christian Ntsay took office on Wednesday as Madagascar's new prime minister after a power transfer with his predecessor Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana.
After leading the government for two years and two months, Solonandrasana resigned on Monday after the decision of the High Constitutional Court (HCC) to dissolve the government.
Following the request of opposition parliament members to disqualify Madagascar's president Hery Rajaonarimampianina, the HCC decided on May 25 to create a new consensus government to resolve the political crisis in Madagascar.
The power transfer was held at the prime minister's office in a ceremony attended by chiefs of military, government officials and diplomatic corps in function in the country.
A former United Nations official, 57-year-old Ntsay replaced Solonandrasana, who had being the fourth prime minister of Rajaonarimampianina's government since March 2016.
"My first priority is to organize an inclusive and transparent election that could be accepted by all," the incoming prime minister said.
"After the appointment of government members which will be done soon, our second priority is the issue of the electoral date," Ntsay said.
"Restoring security, fighting corruption, stabilizing business climate and developing the southern part of Madagascar will be among my priorities," Ntsay added.
"I am a consensus prime minister and opened to all political parties," Ntsay said, concluding his speech by calling for the financial and technical partners of Madagascar to realize their commitments to the country.
Ntsay is widely known since 2008 as the representative of the International Labor Organization (ILO) to Madagascar, Comoros, Mauritius and Seychelles.
As minister of tourism of Madagascar in 2002-2003, Ntsay has worked as an international consultant and expert for the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
