Andry Rajoelina

Andry Rajoelina
President of the High Transitional Authority of Madagascar
Incumbent
Assumed office 17 March 2009
Prime Minister	Monja Roindefo Eugène Mangalaza Cécile Manorohanta (Acting) Albert Camille Vital Omer Beriziky
Preceded by	Marc Ravalomanana
Personal details
Born	(1974-05-30) 30 May 1974 Antananarivo, Madagascar
Political party	Young Malagasies Determined
Spouse(s)	Mialy Rajoelina
Profession	Entrepreneur
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Andry Nirina Rajoelina (Malagasy: [ˈjaɳɖʐʲ nʲˈrinə̥ radzoˈelə̥]), born May 30, 1974, is the former mayor of Antananarivo who became Head of state of Madagascar on March 21, 2009 after the 2009 Malagasy political crisis.

Rajoelina is the youngest head of government in Africa and the third youngest in the world, surpassed by Prime Minister of Montenegro Igor Lukšić, who is two years his junior, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, ten years his junior.

Early career

The son of a colonel^{[citation needed]}, he soon gained prominence after establishing his own radio station, Viva Radio, and a successful advertising company. He earned the nickname TGV after the French high-speed train, which he later continued to use as the name of his political movement.

Political career

As the head of the TGV association, Tanora malaGasy Vonona (Young Malagasies Determined), Rajoelina decided to run for mayor of Antananarivo, the national capital. He faced Hery Rafalimanana, presidential candidate and previous mayor of the city. He did so under the status of President of Special Delegation (PDS), appointed directly by President Marc Ravalomanana^{[citation needed]}.

Rajoelina was elected mayor on 12 December 2007 with 63.3% of the vote. He inherited a city heavily indebted. For example, on 4 January 2008, shortly after his election, the state-run company Jirama cut off water and electricity to the city, citing bad debts as the reason^{[citation needed]}.

2009 Malagasy political crisis

Main article: 2009 Malagasy political crisis

On 13 December 2008, the Government decided to close Rajoelina's Viva TV, stating that a Viva interview with former head of state Didier Ratsiraka was "likely to disturb peace and security". The program was also broadcast by other television channels. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the 17 December 2008 closure of Viva and of other television and radio stations.

Beginning in late January 2009, Rajoelina led a series of political rallies in downtown Antananarivo where he gave voice to the frustration that Ravalomanana's policies had triggered among many Malagasy. At the first of these on January 26, attended by tens of thousands, Rajoelina criticized the effectiveness of Ravalomanana's poverty reduction strategies and accused him of autocratic behavior.

On 31 January 2009, Rajoelina announced that he was in charge of the entire Malagasy Republic, declaring at a rally, "Since the president and the government have not assumed their responsibilities, I therefore proclaim that I will run all national affairs as of today." He added that a request for President Ravalomanana to formally resign would shortly be filed with the Parliament of Madagascar. On February 3, Ravalomanana dismissed Rajoelina as Mayor and a special delegation, headed by Guy Randrianarisoa, was appointed. Rajoelina denounced the decision, saying that there was "no valid reason" and that he was prepared to face arrest if necessary; he warned that the city would not accept the decision.

Tensions between Rajoelina and Ravelomanana continued to mount in early February. At a rally on 4 February before a crowd of about 1,500 people, Rajoelina described the appointment of Randrianarisoa as "an insult to the people of Madagascar." He instead designated Michele Ratsivalaka to succeed him as mayor and gave her his mayoral scarf.

High Transitional Authority

Main article: High Transitional Authority (Madagascar)

Rajoelina was effectively handed the presidency on 18 March 2009, when military leaders transferred to him the executive power that had been given to the military by Ravalomanana. Rajoelina, as head of the High Transitional Authority which he had created in the weeks before Ravalomanana's resignation, is expected to serve as head of state until the scheduled 2011 elections. He was 35 years of age when sworn in, making Rajoelina the youngest president in the country's history. The constitution in effect at the time of his presidency required that presidential candidates attain a minimum of 40 years of age. Rajoelina announced that there would be a new constitution and elections held within 24 months.

On 15 March, two days before Ravalomanana's resignation, Rajoelina announced after Sunday service at the main Antananarivo Roman Catholic cathedral that he would not mix religion with politics.

The Southern African Development Community, a bloc of 15 nations including Madagascar, announced on 19 March that it would not recognize Rajoelina's presidency since the takeover was unconstitutional. His ascension to the presidency was also condemned at first by the European Union and the United States, and the African Union suspended Madagascar and threatened sanctions if the constitutional government had not been restored in six months.

One of his first measures as President was to cancel a deal with Daewoo Logistics which would have led a large percentage of the arable land in Madagascar to be leased to South Korea for agricultural purposes. Opponents of the deal had described it as an act of neo-colonialism, while those in favor cited the tens of thousands of jobs it would have created. Announcing the decision, Rajoelina stated "We are not against the idea of working with investors, but if we want to sell or rent out land, we have to change the constitution, you have to consult the people." Rio Tinto was among several firms to state that they did not expect the coup to have an effect on existing contracts in the country.

On Tuesday, August 4, Rajoelina met with the former exiled president of Madagascar Marc Ravalomanana, former exiled Madagascar president Didier Ratsiraka and former president of the Malagasy Republic Albert Zafy along with former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano acting as mediator at the four-day mediation crisis talks held in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique.

Diplomatic relations

On March 21, 2009, Andry Rajoelina became the President of the High Transitional Authority of Madagascar at the Mahamasina stadium, in Antananarivo, in front of about 20,000 people. However, for the international community, Andry Rajoelina’s legitimacy was conditional to free and fair elections to be organized shortly. A number of key international organizations in which Madagascar is a member, including SADC and the African Union, continue to withhold recognition of Rajoelina's legitimacy. The United States, Madagascar's largest bilateral donor and provider of humanitarian aid, also refuses to acknowledge the Rajoelina administration.

France has gradually moved toward increased diplomatic engagement with Rajoelina. During the crisis of 2009, Andry Rajoelina found refuge in the French Embassy, at the request of the international community and of the UN mediator. On May 12, 2010, Andry Rajoelina was received by Abdou Diouf, General Secretary of the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF). Then on May 13, 2011, Andry Rajoelina also met with Alain Juppé, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs. On December 7, 2011, Rajoelina was received by the French President Nicolas Sarkozy. According to the French presidency, “The interview was devoted to the situation in Madagascar and the completion of the political transition initiated in 2009 through the implementation of the Roadmap for the return of constitutional order, validated by the International community”.

Andry Rajoelina and Ban Ki-moon at the 66th UN general assembly

Rajoelina has likewise been afforded increasing entry to the United Nations. From 9 to 13 May, 2011, Andry Rajoelina was invited to participate in the 4th UN Conference on the least developed countries, held in Istanbul in Turkey. During the event’s dinner, Andry Rajoelina was invited to join the presidential table, and sat next to Ban Ki-moon, the General Secretary of the United Nations. Andry Rajoelina also spoke during the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly which took place on September 23, 2011, in New York. Andry Rajoelina declared that Madagascar was proud to be among the other nations after an absence of three years due to the political crisis.

Constitutional referendum

After the inauguration Rajoelina scheduled a referendum over a new constitution which, after being pushed back repeatedly, was held on 17 November 2010. The official results released by the High Transitional Authority showed voters approved the proposal for the state's fourth Constitution with 73% in favor and a voter turnout of 52.6%. The political opposition and the international community cited numerous irregularities in the process, which was carried out unilaterally by Rajoelina's High Transitional Authority. The National Election Observation Committee (KMF-CNOE), an independent political watchdog group based in Madagascar, likewise stated that the conduct of the election was marred by numerous infractions of the national electoral code.

One change in the new constitution sought to keep the leader of the High Transitional Authority (a position held by Rajoelina) as interim president until an election could take place. Analysts said this could allow Rajoelina to remain in power indefinitely.

The next presidential election is scheduled to be held in September 2011. Rajoelina has declared that he has no intention to run for president. However, an amendment in the new constitution will lower the presidential eligibility age from 40 years to 35 years, allowing the 36-year-old Rajoelina to stand should he choose.

The proposed constitution also contains a clause that requires presidential candidates to have lived in Madagascar for at least six months prior to the elections, effectively barring Ravalomanana and other opposition leaders living in exile from running in the election.

External links

• Official website

References

Political offices
Preceded by Patrick Ramiaramanana	Mayor of Antananarivo 2007–2009	Succeeded by Michele Ratsivalaka
Preceded by Marc Ravalomanana as President of Madagascar	President of the High Transitional Authority of Madagascar 2009–present	Incumbent