Pascal Rakotomavo
Encyclopedia
Pascal Joseph Rakotomavo (1 April 1934 - 14 December 2010) was a Malagasy
politician. He was the Prime Minister of Madagascar
from 21 February 1997 to 23 July 1998.
Born at Antananarivo
, Rakotomavo was Minister of Finance and the Economy from 1982 to 1989 and Special Adviser to President Didier Ratsiraka
from 1989 to 1993. His appointment as Prime Minister in February 1997, following Ratsiraka's return to the presidency, was considered surprising. Rakotomavo served as Governor of Antananarivo Province
from June 2001 to 2002. He was also Ratsiraka's campaign director in the December 2001 presidential election
, but in the political crisis that followed between Ratsiraka and opposition candidate Marc Ravalomanana
, as governor he adopted what has been described as a neutral position. On 28 February 2002, Ratsiraka appointed General Léon-Claude Raveloarison as military governor of Antananarivo Province under martial law
. Rakotomavo was the only one of the six provincial governors to not sign a declaration that Toamasina
, Ratsiraka's stronghold during the 2002 political crisis, was the nation's provisional capital. After Ravalomanana prevailed in the dispute, Rakotomavo, unlike the governors of the other provinces, was not prosecuted.
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
politician. He was the Prime Minister of Madagascar
Prime Minister of Madagascar
This page contains a list of the Prime Ministers of Madagascar.-Prime Ministers of Madagascar :-Affiliations:*PSD - Social Democratic Party of Madagascar and the Comoros...
from 21 February 1997 to 23 July 1998.
Born at Antananarivo
Antananarivo
Antananarivo , formerly Tananarive , is the capital and largest city in Madagascar. It is also known by its French colonial shorthand form Tana....
, Rakotomavo was Minister of Finance and the Economy from 1982 to 1989 and Special Adviser to 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:...
from 1989 to 1993. His appointment as Prime Minister in February 1997, following Ratsiraka's return to the presidency, was considered surprising. Rakotomavo served as Governor of 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...
from June 2001 to 2002. He was also Ratsiraka's campaign director in 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...
, but in the political crisis that followed between Ratsiraka and opposition candidate 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...
, as governor he adopted what has been described as a neutral position. On 28 February 2002, Ratsiraka appointed General Léon-Claude Raveloarison as military governor of Antananarivo Province under martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
. Rakotomavo was the only one of the six provincial governors to not sign a declaration that Toamasina
Toamasina
Toamasina , meaning "like salt" or "salty", unofficially and in French also Tamatave, is a city on the east coast of Madagascar on the Indian Ocean. The city is the chief seaport of the country, situated northeast of its capital and biggest city Antananarivo, near the centre of the eastern coast...
, Ratsiraka's stronghold during the 2002 political crisis, was the nation's provisional capital. After Ravalomanana prevailed in the dispute, Rakotomavo, unlike the governors of the other provinces, was not prosecuted.