Tantely Andrianarivo

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René Tantely Gabrio Andrianarivo (born 25 May 1954 in Ambositra) was a politician in Madagascar. He was the Prime Minister of Madagascar from 23 July 1998 until 31 May 2002, under President Didier Ratsiraka. Andrianarivo became minister of the economy and finance in February 1997, in the government of Pascal Rakotomavo,^[1] and, following parliamentary elections held in May 1998, he was named prime minister by Ratsiraka in July to replace Rakotomavo.^[2] During the 2002 election dispute between Ratsiraka and Marc Ravalomanana, which eventually led to Ratsiraka being forced into exile, Andrianarivo announced a state of emergency imposed by Ratsiraka following Ravalomanana's declaration that he was president on February 22.^[3] In the following months the two rival governments struggled for control of the island. On 27 May 2002, Ravalomanana's forces raided the prime minister's residence in Antananarivo—the last government building in the capital still under the control of the Ratsiraka government—and detained Andrianarivo; Ravalomanana's prime minister, Jacques Sylla, took over the residence.^[4]^[5]^[6] In response, Ratsiraka said he would not participate in planned talks until Andrianarivo was released.^[6]

In December 2003, Andrianarivo was convicted of embezzlement and "endangering the state"; he was sentenced to 12 years of hard labor^[7]^[8] and fined seven million dollars. The fine was intended to pay back government funds that were allegedly illegally withdrawn; the prosecution argued that Andrianarivo was not prime minister when he withdrew the money, which Andrianarivo's lawyers said was used to pay civil servants.^[7] According to Amnesty International, the trial was "marred by irregularities". In Ravalomanana's 2003 end of the year speech, he revealed that Andrianarivo was allowed to seek medical treatment abroad.^[8]