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The directory of informations
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Madagascar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Madagascar ·
History ·
Politics ·
Geography ·
Ecology ·
Economy ·
Foreign relations ·
Demographics
Politics of Madagascar
Madagascar's first president, Philibert Tsiranana, was elected when his Social Democratic Party gained
power at independence in and was re-elected without opposition in March 1972. But he resigned only 2
months later in response to massive antigovernment demonstrations. The unrest continued, and Tsiranana's
successor, Gen. Gabriel Ramanantsoa, resigned on February 5, 1975, handing over executive power to Lt. Col.
Richard Ratsimandrava, who was assassinated 6 days later. A provisional military directorate then ruled
until a new government was formed in June 1975, under dictator Didier Ratsiraka.
During the 16 subsequent years of President Ratsiraka's rule, Madagascar continued under a government
committed to revolutionary socialism based on the 1975 constitution establishing a highly centralized
state. During this period a strategy of nationalization of private enterprises, centralization of the
economy and "Malagasization" of the education system crippled the economy, leaving traces even today of
a highly centralized economic system. National elections in 1982 and 1989 returned Ratsiraka for a second
and third 7-year presidential term. For much of this period, only limited and restrained political
opposition was tolerated, with no direct criticism of the president permitted in the press.
With an easing of restrictions on political expression, beginning in the late 1980s, the Ratsiraka
regime came under increasing pressure to make fundamental changes. In response to a deteriorating
economy, Ratsiraka relaxed socialist economic policies and instituted some liberal, private-sector
reforms. These, along with political reforms like the elimination of press censorship in 1989 and
the formation of more political parties in 1990, were insufficient to placate a growing opposition
movement known as Hery Velona ("Active Forces"). A number of already existing political parties and
their leaders, including Albert Zafy and Manandafy Rakotonirina, anchored this movement which was
especially strong in Antananarivo and the surrounding high plateau.
In response to largely peaceful mass demonstrations and crippling general strikes, Ratsiraka replaced
his prime minister in August 1991 but soon suffered an irreparable setback when his troops fired on
peaceful demonstrators marching on Iavoloha, the suburban presidential palace, killing more than 30.
In an increasingly weakened position, Ratsiraka acceded to negotiations on the formation of a transitional
government. The resulting "Panorama Convention" of October 31, 1991, stripped Ratsiraka of nearly all of
his powers, created interim institutions, and set an 18-month timetable for completing a transition to a
new form of constitutional government. The High Constitutional Court was retained as the ultimate judicial
arbiter of the process.
In March 1992, a widely representative National Forum organised by the FFKM (Malagasy Christian Council of
Churches) drafted a new constitution. Troops guarding the proceedings clashed with pro-Ratsiraka
"federalists" who tried to disrupt the forum in protest of draft constitutional provisions preventing
the incumbent president from running again. The text of the new constitution was put to a nationwide
referendum in August and approved by a wide margin, despite efforts by federalists to disrupt balloting
in several coastal areas.
The High Constitutional Court ruled that Ratsiraka could become a presidential candidate, despite
objections by Hery Velona. Presidential elections were held on November 25, 1992. Runoff elections
were held in February 1993, and the leader of the Hery Velona Movement, Albert Zafy, defeated Ratsiraka.
Zafy was sworn in as president on March 27, 1993.
Zafy was impeached by the National Assembly in 1996 and Norbert Ratsirahonana held a short quasi-presidency.
The 1997 elections again pitted Zafy and Ratsiraka, and this time Ratsiraka won. A National Assembly
dominated by members of President Ratsiraka'a political party Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar
(AREMA) passed the 1998 revised constitution after a popular referendum. It considerably strengthened
the presidency, made impeachments more difficult, and created the autonomous provinces.
In December 2001, a presidential election was held in which both major candidates claimed victory.
The Ministry of the Interior declared incumbent Ratsiraka of the AREMA party victorious. Marc Ravalomanana
contested the results and proclaimed himself president. He later swore himself in twice, in February and in
May 2002. Sporadic violence and considerable economic disruption continued until July 2002 when Ratsiraka
and several of his prominent supporters fled to exile in France. In addition to political differences, ethnic
differences played a role in the crisis and continue to play a role in politics.
After the end of the political crisis, President Ravalomanana began many reform projects, forcefully
advocating "rapid and durable development" and proclaimed the launching of a battle against corruption.
December 2002 legislative elections gave his newly formed TIM (Tiako-I-Madagasikara) (I Love Madagascar)
Party a commanding majority in the National Assembly. November 2003 municipal elections returned a majority
of supporters of the president, but also significant numbers of independent and regional opposition figures.
After the crisis of 2002, with no legal or constitutional basis, the president replaced provincial governors
with appointed PDSs (Presidents des Delegations Speciales). Subsequent legislation established a structure
of 22 regions to decentralize administration. In September 2004, the government named 22 regional chiefs,
reporting directly to the president, to implement its decentralisation plans. Financing and specific powers
for the regional administrations remain to be clarified.
On November 18, 2006 General Fidy supposedly declared a military coup of President Marc Ravalomanana's
government but later denied this, claiming to have simply openly called for the president to stand
down, with no threat of violence.
The December 3rd presidential election went without incident and the official figures announced the
re-election of Ravalomanana with 54.80% of the vote.
On 4 April 2007, a referendum about a revised constitution was held. It was approved with 75.33% of the
votes (24.67% against), but less than 30% participartion nationwide. There are several major and minor
changes in the revised constitution. For example, the autonomous provinces are deleted, the term
"secular state" (French: ?tat la?que) is removed from the constitution, three official languages
(Malagasy, French and English) are included two in addition to the national language (Malagasy).
There were no official languages before the revision.
The new constitution entered into force on 27 April 2007.
Government
The principal institutions of the Republic of Madagascar are a presidency, a parliament
(National Assembly and Senate), a prime ministry and cabinet, and an independent judiciary.
The president is elected by direct universal suffrage for a 5-year term, renewable twice.
The National Assembly consists of 160 representatives elected by direct vote every 5 years. The
last election was held in September 2007.
The Senate consists of 90 senators, two-thirds elected by local legislators and other Grand
Electors and one-third appointed by the president, all for 6-year terms. The dissolution of
the Senate was part of one the revised Constitution proposals of 2007, but in the final proposal
the Senate remains in place.
A prime minister and council of ministers carries out day-to-day management of government. The
president appoints the prime minister. The prime minister appoints the rest of the executives
and council members after being chosen by the elected president.
The prime minister and MPs initiate legislation, and the government executes it. The president
can dissolve the National Assembly. For its part, the National Assembly can pass a motion of
censure and require the prime minister and council of ministers to step down. The Constitutional
Court approves the constitutionality of new laws. Madagascar is also part of the Indian Ocean Commission.
Madagascar ·
History ·
Politics ·
Geography ·
Ecology ·
Economy ·
Foreign relations ·
Demographics
This Article is taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License
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