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Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local long form: Republique de Madagascar
local short form: Madagascar
former: Malagasy Republic
Data code: MA
Government type: republic
Capital: Antananarivo
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence: 26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution: 19 August 1992 by national referendum
Legal system: based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Didier RATSIRAKA (since 10 February
1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Tantely Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO
(since NA 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2002);
prime minister appointed by the president from a list of candidates
nominated by the National Assembly
election results: Didier RATSIRAKA elected president; percent
of vote—Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 50.7%, Albert ZAFY (AFFA)
49.3%
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; members are
directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note—the
legislature is scheduled to become a bicameral Paliament with
the establishment of a Senate; two-thirds of the seats of this
Senate will be filled by regional assemblies whose members will
be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of the seats
will be appointed by the president; the total number of seats
will be determined by the National Assembly; all members will
serve four-year terms
elections: National Assembly—last held 17 May 1998 (next
to be held NA 2002)
election results: National Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA;
seats by party—AREMA 62, LEADER/Fanilo 15, AVI 14, RPSD 11,
AFFA 6, MFM 3, AKFM/Fanavaozana 3, GRAD/Iloafo 1, Fihaonana 1,
independents 34
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme); High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle)
Political parties and leaders: Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot RAJAONARIVELO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Judged by Your Work or AVI [Norbert RATSIRAHONANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]; Action, Truth, Development, and Harmony or AFFA [Professor Albert ZAFY]; Movement for the Progress of Madagascar or MFM [Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA]; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence or AKFM/Fanavaozana [Pastor Richard ANDRIAMANJATO]; Group of Reflection and Action for the Development of Madagascar or GRAD/Iloafo [Tovonanahary RABETSITONTA]; Fihaonana Rally or Fihaonana [Guy RAZANAMASY]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM; Federalist Movement
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in
the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Biclair
Henri ANDRIANANTOANDRO
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from
the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Howard
T. PERLOW
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antananarivo
telephone: [261] (2) 212-57, 200-89, 207-18
FAX: [261] (2) 345-39
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side