Didier Ratsiraka

136
Didier Ratsiraka bigraphy, stories - President of Madagascar

Didier Ratsiraka : biography

November 4, 1936 –

Vice Admiral Didier Ratsiraka (born 4 November 1936) is a Malagasy politician who was President of Madagascar from 1975 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2002.

Second Republic

Born in Vatomandry, Atsinanana Region, Ratsiraka served as Minister of Foreign Affairs under Gabriel Ramanantsoa from 1972 until 1975. Known as the "Red Admiral", he was made head of state, as President of the Supreme Revolutionary Council, by the military leadership on June 15, 1975., U.S. Country Studies, Madagascar.Richard R. Marcus, , Institute for Security Studies, Occasional Paper 89, August 2004. He began setting up a socialist system, which was approved in a referendum held on December 21, 1975, establishing the Second Republic;, U.S. Country Studies, Madagascar. Ratsiraka was also elected President for a seven-year term in this referendum, which received the backing of 95% of voters according to official results. The political party Vanguard of the Malagasy Revolution (FNDR) was founded; in 1989 its name was changed to AREMA (Andry sy Riana Enti-Manavotra an’i Madagasikara) (Pillar and Structure for the Salvation of Madagascar).

In the midst of a poor economic situation, Ratsiraka began to abandon socialist policies after a few years in power and implemented reforms recommended by the International Monetary Fund. He was re-elected as President with 80% of the vote in 1982 and with 63% of the vote in 1989. The latter election was condemned as fraudulent by the opposition, which protested, and at least 75 people were killed in the resulting violence.

Ratsiraka faced intense opposition to his rule in 1991. On August 10, 1991, about 400,000 people marched on the Presidential Palace,, The New York Times, August 13, 1991. and the Presidential Guard attacked the demonstrators with gunfire and grenades. The government placed the death toll at 11, although other reports placed the toll much higher. Ratsiraka said that he had not ordered the Presidential Guard to open fire, but Ratsiraka’s orders have been recorded and in these records, he orders the helicopter to shoot the car of the HAS president and open fire on the strikers but the incident severely undermined his already precarious position. On 31 October, he signed the Panorama Convention, establishing a transitional government and stripping him of most of his powers; although he remained President, opposition leader Albert Zafy became head of the newly established High Authority of the State., New York Times, November 3, 1991.

Return from exile

Didier Ratsiraka returned from exile on November 24, 2011, a move that was welcomed by the Rajoelina regime as well as by former presidents (and former opponents) Ravalomanana and Zafy.

Ratsiraka has called for resolution of the political crisis through direct talks between all four political leaders, talks that should also involve other parties and civil society groups according to him. 

2001 elections

He announced on June 26, 2001 that he would be a candidate for the presidential election to be held in December of that year., Institute for Security Studies, ISS Paper 68, April 2003. In the election, he took second place; according to the government, Marc Ravalomanana won first place with 46% while Ratsiraka took 40%. Because, according to the official results, no candidate won a majority, a runoff was to take place, but due to disputes over the election it was never held. Ravalomanana claimed to have won over 50 percent of the vote, enough to win the presidency in a single round. Ravalomanana was sworn in as President by his supporters on February 22, 2002, and the two governments fought for control of the country. By the end of February 2002, Ravalomanana had control over the capital, which had always been his base, but Ratsiraka largely maintained control over the provinces and established himself at Toamasina, his primary support base. However, within a few months Ravalomanana had gained the upper hand in a struggle. In mid-June Ratsiraka went to France, leading many to believe he had fled into exile and lowering the morale of his supporters, although Ratsiraka said he would return., BBC News, June 14, 2002. He did return to Madagascar after more than a week,, BBC News, June 23, 2002. but his position was continuing to weaken militarily. On July 5, Ratsiraka fled Toamasina, taking a flight to the nearby Seychelles., BBC News, July 5, 2002. Two days later he arrived in France., BBC News, July 8, 2002.