Norbert Ratsirahonana
Encyclopedia
Norbert Lala Ratsirahonana (born November 18, 1938) is a Malagasy
politician.
He was born in Antsiranana
, Diana Region
. He founded and led the Asa Vita no Ifampitsarana
(Judged By Your Work) Party, which opposed President Didier Ratsiraka
. He and his party were part of the coalition which elected Albert Zafy
to the presidency in 1993. Ratsirahonana then became President of the High Constitutional Court.
On May 28, 1996, when the prime minister was deposed by Parliament in a no confidence vote, Zafy appointed Ratsirahonana to the post. Soon afterward, Zafy was impeached and, on September 5, 1996, Ratsirahonana became acting President of Madagascar. A presidential election
was held on November 3, 1996, in which Ratsirahonana ran, taking fourth place (behind Ratsiraka, Zafy and Herizo Razafimahaleo
) and 10.14% of the vote. Ratsirahonana backed Zafy in the second round, which was held on December 29, but Ratsiraka narrowly prevailed; Ratsirahonana left office as President when Ratsiraka was sworn in, on February 9, 1997. Twelve days later, he also lost his position as Prime Minister when Ratsiraka appointed one of his own allies. The AVI then became the main opposition party, though it became very weak, winning only 13 of the 150 seats in the 1998 parliamentary election.
Ratsirahonana became Chairman of the National Executive Committee of the Panorama Group opposition coalition in September 1997.
Ratsirahonana withdrew from the December 2001 presidential election
and endorsed the candidacy of Marc Ravalomanana
. He was appointed as the president's "roaming ambassador" under the Ravalomanana regime. In 2006, however, Ratsirahonana resigned from his office; in August 2006 he announced his candidacy for the December 3 presidential election. According to official results, he received 4.22% of the vote and took fifth place. His best result was in Antananarivo Province
, where he received 7.14% of the vote.
Amidst the 2009 political crisis
, when the military announced that it was installing opposition leader Andry Rajoelina
as head of state on March 17, 2009, Ratsirahonana was present as master of ceremonies. Rajoelina then set up the High Authority of the Transition (HAT) as the ruling body, and Ratsirahonana was appointed as one of the HAT's 44 members on March 31, 2009.
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
politician.
He was born in Antsiranana
Antsiranana
Antsiranana , named Diego-Suarez prior to 1975, is a city at the northern tip of Madagascar.Antsiranana is the capital of Diana Region.-Transports:...
, Diana Region
Diana, Madagascar
Diana is a region in Madagascar. The region is the most northerly part of the island. It borders the adjacent regions of Sava to the east and Sofia to the south. It covers an area of 19,266 km2., and had an estimated population of 485,800 in 2004...
. He founded and led the Asa Vita no Ifampitsarana
Judged By Your Work Party
Judged By Your Work Party is a political party in Madagascar.The AVI backed Marc Ravalomanana, the opposition candidate in the disputed December 2001 presidential election, and after Ravalomanana became President, the AVI joined the government...
(Judged By Your Work) Party, which opposed President Didier Ratsiraka
Didier Ratsiraka
Vice Admiral Didier Ratsiraka is a Malagasy politician who was President of Madagascar from 1975 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2002.-Second Republic:...
. He and his party were part of the coalition which elected Albert Zafy
Albert Zafy
Albert Zafy is a Malagasy politician. He was the President of Madagascar from 27 March 1993 to 5 September 1996.-Early life and career:...
to the presidency in 1993. Ratsirahonana then became President of the High Constitutional Court.
On May 28, 1996, when the prime minister was deposed by Parliament in a no confidence vote, Zafy appointed Ratsirahonana to the post. Soon afterward, Zafy was impeached and, on September 5, 1996, Ratsirahonana became acting President of Madagascar. A presidential election
Malagasy presidential election, 1996
Presidential elections were held in Madagascar on 3 November 1996, with a second round on 29 December 1996. The election followed the impeachment of incumbent President Albert Zafy and the appointment of his interim successor, Norbert Ratsirahonana....
was held on November 3, 1996, in which Ratsirahonana ran, taking fourth place (behind Ratsiraka, Zafy and Herizo Razafimahaleo
Herizo Razafimahaleo
Herizo Jossicher Razafimahaleo was a politician in Madagascar. He ran for President three times, and he served as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister from 1997 to 1998....
) and 10.14% of the vote. Ratsirahonana backed Zafy in the second round, which was held on December 29, but Ratsiraka narrowly prevailed; Ratsirahonana left office as President when Ratsiraka was sworn in, on February 9, 1997. Twelve days later, he also lost his position as Prime Minister when Ratsiraka appointed one of his own allies. The AVI then became the main opposition party, though it became very weak, winning only 13 of the 150 seats in the 1998 parliamentary election.
Ratsirahonana became Chairman of the National Executive Committee of the Panorama Group opposition coalition in September 1997.
Ratsirahonana withdrew from the December 2001 presidential election
Malagasy presidential election, 2001
Presidential elections were held in Madagascar on 16 December 2001. Initial results suggested a second round was necessary, with neither of the main candidates, incumbent President Didier Ratsiraka and Marc Ravalomanana. However, Ravalomanana rejected the results and declared himself President in...
and endorsed the candidacy of Marc Ravalomanana
Marc Ravalomanana
Marc Ravalomanana is a Malagasy politician who was the President of Madagascar from 2002 to 2009. A member of the Merina ethnic group, Ravalomanana served as Mayor of Antananarivo before becoming President in 2002...
. He was appointed as the president's "roaming ambassador" under the Ravalomanana regime. In 2006, however, Ratsirahonana resigned from his office; in August 2006 he announced his candidacy for the December 3 presidential election. According to official results, he received 4.22% of the vote and took fifth place. His best result was in Antananarivo Province
Antananarivo Province
Antananarivo is a former province of Madagascar with an area of 58,283 km². It had a population of 5,370,900 . Its capital was Antananarivo.Except for Antsiranana, Antananarivo Province bordered all of the country's other provinces:*Mahajanga - north...
, where he received 7.14% of the vote.
Amidst the 2009 political crisis
2009 Malagasy protests
The 2009 Malagasy political crisis involved a series of anti-government demonstrations in Madagascar in early 2009, culminating in military involvement and the accession of opposition leader Andry Rajoelina to the Presidency. The protests began in January 2009 and were aimed at the government of...
, when the military announced that it was installing opposition leader Andry Rajoelina
Andry Rajoelina
Andry Nirina Rajoelina , born May 30 1974, is the former mayor of Antananarivo who became transitional head of state of Madagascar on March 21, 2009 after the 2009 Malagasy political crisis....
as head of state on March 17, 2009, Ratsirahonana was present as master of ceremonies. Rajoelina then set up the High Authority of the Transition (HAT) as the ruling body, and Ratsirahonana was appointed as one of the HAT's 44 members on March 31, 2009.