Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery (Libéralisme Économique et Action Démocratique pour la Reconstruction Nationale, or LEADER-Fanilo) is a political party in Madagascar. The party was founded by Herizo Razafimahaleo in June 1992;[1] since his death in 2008, it has been led by Manassé Esoavelomandroso.
After the June 1993 parliamentary election, LEADER-Fanilo joined the government of Prime Minister Francisque Ravony in August, but Razafimahaleo resigned from the government in July 1994 and the other LEADER-Fanilo ministers resigned in May 1995. Razafimahaleo was a candidate in the November 1996 presidential election, placing third with 15.13% of the vote. The party backed Didier Ratsiraka in the second round of the 1996 presidential election, held in December, and after his victory LEADER-Fanilo joined the government again in February 1997. The party won 16 seats in the June 1998 parliamentary election, the second highest number of any party.[1] Razafimahaleo, who had been Deputy Prime Minister, subsequently left the government, although the party continued to participate in it.[2] Razafimahaleo was the party's candidate again in the December 2001 presidential election. He resigned as President of the party in May 2002 and left the political scene.[1]
In the parliamentary election held on 15 December 2002, the party won 3.3 % of the popular vote and 2 out of 160 seats.
Razafimahaleo returned to active politics in 2006 and contested that year's presidential election as the LEADER-Fanilo candidate,[1] winning 9.03% of the vote.[3] In the September 2007 parliamentary election, the party won one seat: that of Befandriana Nord constituency, won by Jonah Parfait Prezaly.[4] Razafimahaleo died in July 2008.[5] At the time of his death, the party's Secretary-General was Manassé Esoavelomandroso.[6]
Following Razafimahaleo's death, LEADER-Fanilo's national council chose Esoavelomandroso as the party's National President in early September 2008, while four vice-presidents were also chosen to assist him in his work: Jean Max Rakotomamonjy, Benja Razafimahaleo, Constance Razafimily, and Eloi Beandaza. Alain Rakotomavo was chosen as Secretary-General.[7]
Literally, Fanilo means torch, but it is also metaphorically used for a spokesman.
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