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 AFROL Government Profiles:
Madagascar
Pre-Independence cues
19th century: Imerina empire, based in inland Antananarivo, becomes
dominant political force on the island.
1895/6: French occupation and colonisation.
1898: Imerina kingdom abolished by the French colonial administration.
1947/48: Malagasy nationalist uprising suppressed by France.
1958: Malagasy Republic proclaimed on 14 October 1958, as an autonomous
state within the French Community.
1960: Full independence on 26 June 1960.
Post-independence cues
1960: Philibert Tsiranana, the leader of the Social Democratic Party
(PSD), is elected the republic's first president.
1972: Merina-dominated army overthrows Tsiranana's government.
1975: Martial law imposed; new one-party state Marxist constitution
adopted, with Lt-Commander Didier Ratsiraka as
president.
1980: Ratsiraka abandons Marxist experiment.
1983: Ratsiraka re-elected.
1990: Political opposition legalized. 36 new parties created.
1991: Antigovernment demonstrations. Ratsiraka
formed new unity government, which included opposition members.
1992: New Constitutional approved by referendum. Third Republic
proclaimed.
1993: Albert Zafy elected president and pro-Zafy left-of-centre coalition
wins parliamentary majority.
1996: Norbert Ratsirahonana became prime minister and then interim
president upon parliament's removal of Zafy. Didier Ratsiraka
elected president 29 December by 51% of the votes (against 49% for Albert Zafy).
1998: Tantely Réné Gabriot Andrianarivo appointed prime minister.
Constitution reformed by referendum.
2001: Senate re-opens, in accordance with the 1992 Constitution.
Heads of State 1960-2001
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Didier Ratsiraka
Malagasy President since 1997
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President
Philibert Tsiranana 26 June 1960 - 11 Oct. 1972
Heads of the (military) Government
Gabriel Ramanantsoa 11 Oct. 1972 - 5 Feb. 1975
Richard Ratsimandrava 5 Feb. 1975 - 11 Feb. 1975
Chairman of the National Military Leadership Committee
Gilles Andriamahazo 12 Feb. 1975 - 15 June 1975
Chairman of the (military) Supreme Council of Revolution
Didier Ratsiraka 15 June 1975 - 4 Jan. 1976
Presidents
Didier Ratsiraka 4 Jan. 1976 - 27 Mar. 1993
Albert Zafy 27 Mar. 1993 - 5 Sep. 1996
Norbert Ratsirahonana 5 Sep. 1996 - 9 Feb. 1997
Didier Ratsiraka 9 Feb. 1997 >
Present Government composition
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Tantely Réné Gabriot Andrianarivo Malagasy
Prime Minister since 1998 Photo:
European Commission
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Prime Minister:
Tantely Réné Gabriot Andrianarivo (appointed 23 July 1998 by the
President)
Cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the Prime Minister.
Ministers:
- Vice Prime Minister in Charge of Budget & Development of Autonomous
Provinces Pierrot Jocelyn Rajaonarivelo
- Minister of Agriculture Marcel Theophile Raveloarijaona
- Minister of Armed Forces lt. Gen. Marcel Ranjeva
- Minister of the Civil Service, Labor, & Social Laws Alice Razafinakanga
- Minister of Commerce & Consumer Affairs Alphonse Randrianambinina
- Minister of Economy & Finance Tantely Réné Gabriot Andrianarivo
- Minister of Energy & Mines Charles Rasoza
- Minister of Environment Alphonse Randrianambinina
- Minister of Fisheries & Maritime Resources Houssen Abdallah
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Lila Ratsifandrihamanana
- Minister of Health Henriette Rahantalalao
- Minister of Higher Education Joseph Sydson
- Minister of Industry & Crafts Mamy Ratovomalala
- Minister of Information, Culture, & Communication Fredo Betsimifira
- Minister of Interior Brig. Gen. Jean-Jacques Rasolondraibe
- Minister of Justice Anaclet Imbiky
- Minister of Livestock Rakotondrasoa
- Minister of Population, Women's Issues & Childhood Noeline Jaotody
- Minister of Posts & Telecommunications Ny Hasina Andriamanjato
- Minister of Primary & Secondary Education Simon Jacquit
- Minister of Private Sector Economy & Privatization Horace Constant
- Minister of Public Works Col. Jean Emile Tsaranazy
- Minister of Scientific Research Georges Solay Rakotonirainy
- Minister of Technical & Professional Education Boniface Levelo
- Minister of Territorial Management & Cities Herivelona Ramamantsoa
- Minister of Tourism Blandin Razafimanjato
- Minister of Transport & Meteorology Charles Rasolonay
- Minister of Waters & Forrests Rija Rajohnson
- Minister of Youth & Sports Ndrianasolo
Government type
Madagascar has a republican constitution, with strong powers given the
President. The President is elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(election last held 29 December 1996 and the next to be held in 2002). The Prime
Minister is appointed by the President from a list of candidates nominated by
the National Assembly. The Prime Minister appoints the rest of the executive,
the Council of Ministers.
The legislative branch is a bicameral Parliament, composed of the National
Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; members are directly elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms) and a Senate (two-thirds of the seats of
this Senate are filled by regional assemblies whose members are elected by
popular vote; the remaining one-third of the seats are appointed by the
President. Last elections to the National Assembly were held 17 May 1998 (next
to be held in 2002).
The judicial branch is lead by the Supreme Court or Cour Supreme and the High
Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle. The legal system is based
on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law.
Although power remains formally divided between the President, his Prime
Minister, the Cabinet, and the bicameral legislature, the Constitution revised
in 1998 significantly strengthened the presidency and weakened the National
Assembly.
Democracy and human rights
Democratic institutions and human rights generally been respected by the
Third Republic (after 1992). The presidential (1996) and
legislative (1998) elections were accepted widely as free and fair. The
Government generally respects citizens' human rights in most areas; however,
there are a number of problems: There are occasional reports that police or
other security forces mistreat prisoners or detainees and arbitrary arrest and
detention exist. At times the Government pressures the media to curb its
coverage of certain events and issues and journalists practice self-censorship.
Women continue to face some societal discrimination.
Main sources: U.S. Department of State, CIA,
UN, Terra, CountryWatch, afrol archives
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