Madagascar is putting candidates for the new cabinet through lie detectors before finalising appointments, the interim president said on Thursday.
The new line-up would be announced early next week, said Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who dismissed the previous prime minister and cabinet 10 days ago with no explanation.
“We have decided to use a polygraph,” the 52-year-old leader told local media. “It is with this polygraph that the background integrity checks will be carried out.”
“We will know who is corrupt and who can help us, who is going to betray the youth struggle,” he said.
Demonstrations against water and power shortages in September last year snowballed into a protest movement that ended after former President Andry Rajoelina fled the island nation.
Randrianirina, whose army unit had sided with the protestors, was sworn in as interim president in October and has pledged to call new elections by late 2027.
His first government contained familiar faces from the island’s political elite.
He and the new prime minister – anti-money-laundering chief Mamitiana Rajaonarison who took office on March 15 – would only interview candidates for the cabinet who had passed the polygraph, the president said.
“We’re not looking for someone who is 100 percent clean, but over 60 percent,” the president said. “That way, Madagascar will finally be able to develop.”
SOURCE:AFP