Madagascar’s political crisis deepened on Tuesday as the lower house of parliament voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina for “desertion of duty,” following weeks of mass protests and reports that the embattled leader had fled the country. Lawmakers voted 130 to 33 in favor of the motion — comfortably surpassing the two-thirds constitutional threshold required in the 163-member chamber.

The impeachment marks a dramatic escalation in the turmoil gripping the Indian Ocean nation, where anger over corruption, economic hardship, and alleged abuses of power has fueled youth-led demonstrations and military defections. Rajoelina, who has not been seen publicly in over a week, is accused of abandoning his responsibilities amid growing unrest and uncertainty about his whereabouts.

In a swift response, the presidency dismissed the parliamentary action as “devoid of any legal basis,” insisting that Rajoelina remains the legitimate head of state. The development sets the stage for a potential constitutional showdown as Madagascar faces its most serious political upheaval in over a decade.

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