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
Preceded by	Marc Ravalomanana
Born	30 May 1974 (1974-05-30) (age 36) Antananarivo, Madagascar
Political party	Young Malagasies Determined
Spouse(s)	Mialy Rajoelina
Profession	Entrepreneur
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Andry Nirina Rajoelina (born May 30, 1974)^[1] is a Malagasy politician and television and radio station owner.^[2] Rajoelina dissolved Madagascar's parliament, changed the high court judges and swore himself in as transitional head of state of Madagascar on March 21, 2009, having been installed in that position by the military at the end of a political crisis.^[3] Rajoelina was Mayor of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, from December 2007 to February 2009.^[4] While serving as Mayor, he strongly opposed President Marc Ravalomanana, ultimately leading protests that, together with military intervention, resulted in Ravalomanana's resignation. He is one of the youngest current heads of state in the world and the youngest head of state in Africa.

Early career

Rajoelina personal fortune derives from the wealth of his wife's family.^[5] The son of a colonel^[6] and a high school drop-out, by age 20 Rajoelina was working as a disc jockey in various clubs and bars around Antananarivo.^[5] He soon gained prominence after establishing his own radio station, Viva Radio, and a successful advertising company.^[5] He earned the nickname "TGV" after the teen's gang « Troup Gun's Val » (TGV) that he founded with his cousin Liva Andrianasolo Ramavozatovo, and refer it, cause of his political career, to TGV French high-speed rail service.^[5]

Political career

As the head of the movement TGV - Tanora malaGasy Vonona (Determined Malagasy Youth), 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. Rajoelina was elected mayor on 12 December 2007 with 63.3% of the vote. He inherited a city heavily indebted.

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.

Clash with the President Ravalomanana

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 programme 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.^[7]

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 taken their responsibility, 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.^[8] On 3 February, Rajoelina was dismissed 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.^[9]

Rajoelina held another rally on 4 February, with about 1,500 people in attendance. On that occasion he 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.^[4] By early February the political protests had turned increasingly aggressive and both rivals at the centre of the political storm continued to blame each other for the violence that had left some 130 people dead.Firstly, Andry Rajoelina had brought people to rob and burn not only Marc Ravalomanana's (his political rival) store but also Malagasy businessmen's during riots over the big islands on January 26, 27, 2009. Consequently, some of the robbers had been burnt inside.^[10][11] Secondly, on 7 February, heavily armed security forces opened fire on anti-government demonstrators encouraged by him and marching on the presidential palace.^[12]

On Tuesday, August 4, Rajoelina met with Former exiled president of Madagascar Marc Ravalomanana, former exiled Madasgcar president Didier Ratsiraka and former president of the Malagasy Republic Albert Zafy along with former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano acting as mediator at the 4 day long mediation crisis talks held in Madagascar.^{[13][14][15][16][17][18]}

Assumption of presidency

Rajoelina was effectively handed the presidency on 18 March 2009, when the military handed over the executive power that was given to it by Ravalomanana upon his supposed resignation. Rajoelina, as head of the High Transitional Authority which he had created weeks before Ravalomanana's resignation, is expected to serve as head of state until the scheduled 2011 elections. He is the youngest president in the country's history at 35 years of age. The current constitution requires presidential candidates to be a minimum of 40 years of age.^[19] Rajoelina has announced that, within 24 months, there will be a new constitution and elections.^[19]

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.^[20]

The Southern African Development Community, a bloc of 15 nations including Madagascar, announced on 19 March that it would not recognize Rajoelina's presidency.^[21] His ascension to the presidency was also condemned by the European Union and the United States,^[22] and the African Union suspended Madagascar and threatened sanctions if the constitutional government had not been restored in six months.^[23]

Rajoelina held his inauguration on 21 March amid growing international opposition with foreign diplomats visibly absent at the ceremony.^[24] Madagascar is heavily dependent on foreign aid and large donors, including the US and Norway, have withdrawn assistance in protest of the manner in which Rajoelina attained power. France, Madagascar's former colonial power, dismissed Rajoelina's presidency as "a coup d'état".^[24]

One of his first measures as President was to cancel a deal with Daewoo Logistics which would have led a large tract of area in Madagascar to be leased out to South Korea for agricultural purposes. Opponents of the deal had described it as an act of neo-colonialism.^[25] 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."^[26] Rio Tinto were among several firms to state that they did not expect the coup to have an effect on existing contracts in the country.^[27]

References

• Madagascar's 'militant mayor'. Jonny Hogg, BBC News. 3 February 2009
• Mayor Declares a Coup in Madagascar. BARRY BEARAK, The New York Times. 31 January 2009

Presidents of Madagascar Tsiranana | Ramanantsoa | Ratsimandrava | Andriamahazo | Ratsiraka | Zafy | Ratsirahonana (interim) | Ratsiraka | Ravalomanana | Rajoelina