Pety Rakotoniaina
Encyclopedia
Pety Rakotoniaina is a Malagasy
politician
. He is the President of the Union
(Tambatra) association and the Mayor of Fianarantsoa
.
Born in Ikalamavony
, Rakotoniaina studied at the University of Fianarantsoa Madagascar. In 1993, he was elected to the National Assembly
as a Deputy of the Militants for the Progress of Madagascar (MFM) for the Ikalamavony district, winning 57% of the vote. He was re-elected with 83% of the vote in 1998.
In March 2002, during the conflicts following the December 2001 presidential election
, Rakotoniaina was named President of the Special Delegation (Governor) of Fianarantsoa Province
by Marc Ravalomanana
. In April, forces supporting Didier Ratsiraka
left the region's capital, and Rakotoniaina was able to take office. In May 2002, he founded the Union (Tambatra) political association.
Ravalomanana dismissed Rakotoniaina from his position on January 27, 2003, and replaced him with Ravelomanga Randrianarivo. Rakotoniaina attempted to hold on to power for several days, without success; objecting to his dismissal, he said: "No one, at any level of this regime, can claim to have done more for President Ravalomanana than I have." His wife was reportedly ambushed, along with other passengers in a vehicle, by gunmen in Isorana
on May 31, 2003.
Rakotoniaina, having become an opponent of Ravalomanana and the ruling Tiako I Madagasikara
(TIM) party and running as the Tambatra candidate, was elected as the Mayor of Fianarantsoa in the municipal election held on November 23, 2003; he defeated the TIM candidate, Raymond Ratovondrahona. There were rumors that the results might be cancelled and the election held over again, and Rakotoniaina said there was no valid reason for this to occur. His victory was, however, confirmed by the Fianarantsoa electoral court on December 11, 2003. An alleged assassination attempt against him also occurred on the same day.
General Andrianafidisoa
(Fidy), to whom Rakotoniaina is considered close, allegedly attempted a coup
in November 2006, two weeks before the December 2006 presidential election
. Rakotoniaina, who was standing as a presidential candidate, was among the majority of candidates who expressed their support for Fidy, saying that he was defending the constitution. In the election, Rakotoniaina was highly critical of Ravalomanana. He placed eighth in the December 3 election, with 1.68% of the votes cast. His only significant support was in Fianarantsoa Province, where he won 7.42% of the vote.
A few days after the election, the authorities attempted to arrest Rakotoniaina, surrounding his home at night, but he was not present and was thought to be in hiding. He had allegedly held a gathering on December 2, after the legal period for campaigning had ended, misused public property, and made death threats against officials and police officers. A warrant was issued for Rakotoniaina's arrest, and a reward of 100 million ariary was offered for information leading to his capture. On June 19, 2007, his wife, Ialy Rakotoniaina, was arrested for alleged complicity in an arson
attack at the University of Fianarantsoa that occurred on June 13. Some believed that she was being used as a hostage to force her husband out of hiding.
On July 19, 2007, Rakotoniaina was captured in Fianarantsoa and held on charges of the theft of state cars. On October 8, 2007, he received a five-year prison sentence for the 2002 and 2003 theft of three of the province's vehicles. A former aide to Rakotoniaina implicated him, claiming that he had stolen vehicles for Rakotoniaina. Additional charges against Rakotoniaina related to forgery
were dropped. Rakotoniaina's lawyer, Adolphe Lalao, described the trial as politically motivated and said that there had not been enough evidence for a conviction.
Ravalomanana was forced out of office by a combination of popular protests and military intervention in March 2009. Opposition leader Andry Rajoelina
then took over as President of the High Authority of the Transition and promptly pardoned Rakotoniaina, along with many other political prisoners (including Andrianafidisoa), on 26 March 2009. Rajoelina also appointed Rakotoniaina's wife, Ialy Rakotoniaina, as a member of the High Authority of the Transition, and on 1 April 2009 he announced that he was restoring Rakotoniaina to his former position as Mayor of Fianarantsoa. Upon Rakotoniaina's arrival in Fianarantsoa, he received a hero's welcome.
Malagasy people
The Malagasy ethnic group forms nearly the entire population of Madagascar. They are divided into two subgroups: the "Highlander" Merina, Sihanaka and Betsileo of the central plateau around Antananarivo, Alaotra and Fianarantsoa, and the côtiers elsewhere in the country. This division has its...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He is the President of the Union
Union (Madagascar)
Union is a political party in Madagascar. The party's candidate Pety Rakotoniaina won 1.68 % in the December 2006 presidential election. Since the 23 September 2007 National Assembly elections it is no longer represented ij parliament...
(Tambatra) association and the Mayor of Fianarantsoa
Fianarantsoa
Fianarantsoa is a city in south central Madagascar.Fianarantsoa is the capital of Haute Matsiatra Region. It was built in the early 19th century by the Merina as the administrative capital for the newly conquered Betsileo kingdoms....
.
Born in Ikalamavony
Ikalamavony
Ikalamavony is a small town in Haute Matsiatra region, in the hills of southern central Madagascar....
, Rakotoniaina studied at the University of Fianarantsoa Madagascar. In 1993, he was elected to the National Assembly
National Assembly of Madagascar
The Parliament has two chambers. The lower house is the National Assembly .The Assembly has 160 members, elected for a four year term in single-member and two-member constituencies...
as a Deputy of the Militants for the Progress of Madagascar (MFM) for the Ikalamavony district, winning 57% of the vote. He was re-elected with 83% of the vote in 1998.
In March 2002, during the conflicts following 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...
, Rakotoniaina was named President of the Special Delegation (Governor) of Fianarantsoa Province
Fianarantsoa Province
Fianarantsoa is a former province of Madagascar.*Area: 103,272 km2.*Population of 3,366,291 .*Capital: Fianarantsoa.*President: Fidy Mpanjato Rakotonarivo .One of its towns was Andohapatsakana...
by 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...
. In April, forces supporting 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:...
left the region's capital, and Rakotoniaina was able to take office. In May 2002, he founded the Union (Tambatra) political association.
Ravalomanana dismissed Rakotoniaina from his position on January 27, 2003, and replaced him with Ravelomanga Randrianarivo. Rakotoniaina attempted to hold on to power for several days, without success; objecting to his dismissal, he said: "No one, at any level of this regime, can claim to have done more for President Ravalomanana than I have." His wife was reportedly ambushed, along with other passengers in a vehicle, by gunmen in Isorana
Isorana
Isorana is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Fianarantsoa II, which is a part of Haute Matsiatra Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 10,000 in 2001 commune census....
on May 31, 2003.
Rakotoniaina, having become an opponent of Ravalomanana and the ruling Tiako I Madagasikara
Tiako I Madagasikara
Tiako I Madagasikara is a political party in Madagascar founded by a group of individuals on July 3, 2002 to support President Marc Ravalomanana. It is now the largest party in the National Assembly of Madagascar with 106 of 127 seats, after the parliamentary election held on September 23, 2007....
(TIM) party and running as the Tambatra candidate, was elected as the Mayor of Fianarantsoa in the municipal election held on November 23, 2003; he defeated the TIM candidate, Raymond Ratovondrahona. There were rumors that the results might be cancelled and the election held over again, and Rakotoniaina said there was no valid reason for this to occur. His victory was, however, confirmed by the Fianarantsoa electoral court on December 11, 2003. An alleged assassination attempt against him also occurred on the same day.
General Andrianafidisoa
Andrianafidisoa
Andrianafidisoa, popularly known as Fidy, is a retired military general of the Army of Madagascar and a former Director of the National Mines and Strategic Industries Office . He allegedly attempted a coup d'état against Malagasy President Marc Ravalomanana on November 18, 2006...
(Fidy), to whom Rakotoniaina is considered close, allegedly attempted a coup
2006 Malagasy coup d'état attempt
An alleged coup d'état attempt occurred in Madagascar on November 18, 2006, during the lead-up to the December 3 presidential election, when retired army General Andrianafidisoa, also known as Fidy , declared military rule.According to judicial authorities, Andrianafidisoa was not allowed to run...
in November 2006, two weeks before the December 2006 presidential election
Malagasy presidential election, 2006
Presidential elections were held in Madagascar on 3 December 2006. President Marc Ravalomanana, in office since he prevailed in a dispute over election results in 2002, ran for re-election...
. Rakotoniaina, who was standing as a presidential candidate, was among the majority of candidates who expressed their support for Fidy, saying that he was defending the constitution. In the election, Rakotoniaina was highly critical of Ravalomanana. He placed eighth in the December 3 election, with 1.68% of the votes cast. His only significant support was in Fianarantsoa Province, where he won 7.42% of the vote.
A few days after the election, the authorities attempted to arrest Rakotoniaina, surrounding his home at night, but he was not present and was thought to be in hiding. He had allegedly held a gathering on December 2, after the legal period for campaigning had ended, misused public property, and made death threats against officials and police officers. A warrant was issued for Rakotoniaina's arrest, and a reward of 100 million ariary was offered for information leading to his capture. On June 19, 2007, his wife, Ialy Rakotoniaina, was arrested for alleged complicity in an arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
attack at the University of Fianarantsoa that occurred on June 13. Some believed that she was being used as a hostage to force her husband out of hiding.
On July 19, 2007, Rakotoniaina was captured in Fianarantsoa and held on charges of the theft of state cars. On October 8, 2007, he received a five-year prison sentence for the 2002 and 2003 theft of three of the province's vehicles. A former aide to Rakotoniaina implicated him, claiming that he had stolen vehicles for Rakotoniaina. Additional charges against Rakotoniaina related to forgery
Forgery
Forgery is the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Copies, studio replicas, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. Forging money or...
were dropped. Rakotoniaina's lawyer, Adolphe Lalao, described the trial as politically motivated and said that there had not been enough evidence for a conviction.
Ravalomanana was forced out of office by a combination of popular protests and military intervention in March 2009. 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....
then took over as President of the High Authority of the Transition and promptly pardoned Rakotoniaina, along with many other political prisoners (including Andrianafidisoa), on 26 March 2009. Rajoelina also appointed Rakotoniaina's wife, Ialy Rakotoniaina, as a member of the High Authority of the Transition, and on 1 April 2009 he announced that he was restoring Rakotoniaina to his former position as Mayor of Fianarantsoa. Upon Rakotoniaina's arrival in Fianarantsoa, he received a hero's welcome.