During the session, attendees were invited to ask questions and share their opinions directly with the president. “I don’t want flattery; I want the truth,” Rajoelina said. “Those who kept telling me everything was fine are the ones responsible for our current state.”
The call comes amid growing unrest led by a youth movement known as Gen Z Mada, which has been demanding the president’s resignation. The group has boycotted the talks, accusing the government of oppression and human rights violations.
Gen Z Mada announced plans for new protests on Thursday, declaring on Facebook: “We reject the president’s invitation for dialogue. We refuse to negotiate with a regime that represses, attacks, and humiliates its young people in the streets.”
The protests reflect rising frustration over economic hardship, corruption, and unemployment, with Rajoelina’s administration facing mounting pressure to deliver tangible reforms before his self-imposed one-year deadline.