Marc Ravalomanana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marc Ravalomanana
Image:Appl0405.loselesslycropped.jpg <small/>
9th President of Madagascar
Incumbent
Assumed office May 6, 2002
Preceded by	Didier Ratsiraka
Succeeded by	Incumbent

Born	December 12, 1949 Imerinkasinina, Madagascar
Spouse	Lalao Ravalomanana

Marc Ravalomanana (born December 12, 1949 in Imerinkasinina) is a Malagasy politician. He comes from the Merina ethnicity.<ref name=ISS>Richard R. Marcus, "Political Change in Madagascar", Institute for Security Studies, ISS Paper 89, August 2004.</ref> He is currently the President of Madagascar.

Before entering politics, Ravalomanana was a wealthy, self-made businessman who founded the island's largest dairy company, Tiko.<ref name=ISS/> He started his business career selling yogurt from his bicycle before he received a loan from the World Bank that enabled him to buy a factory.<ref name=Profile>Profile of Marc Ravalomanana, BBC News, March 11, 2002.</ref> In 1999 he ran for the office of mayor of the capital, Antananarivo, and won.<ref name=ISS/><ref name=Cornwall>Richard Cornwell, "Madagascar: Stumbling at the first hurdle?", ISS Paper 68, April 2003.</ref> As mayor he was credited with successfully cleaning up the capital.<ref name=ISS/><ref name=Profile/> He announced on August 5, 2001 that he would run for president in the election to be held later that year on December 16; two months later, polls showed him to be ahead of the incumbent president, Didier Ratsiraka. Following the election, official results put Ravalomanana in first place, with 46%, against Ratsiraka's 40%; without a majority, a run-off would be required between the two. Ravalomanana, however, claimed to have won a majority in the first round, and he refused to participate in a run-off, instead demanding that the High Constitutional Court review the votes. Ratsiraka's supporters then blockaded the capital, which Ravalomanana's supporters controlled. Ravalomanana declared himself president on February 22, 2002. After a recount, on April 29, 2002 the High Constitutional Court pronounced Ravalomanana the winner of the election, and he was sworn in for a second time on May 6. The presidency remained disputed, however, until fighting forced Ratsiraka to flee into exile on July 5, 2002, after he had lost control of most of the country's provinces.<ref name=Cornwall/>

Ravalomanana is credited with improving the country's infrastructure, such as roads, but has faced criticism for failing to make progress against poverty; purchasing power and living standards are said to have declined during his time in office.<ref>"Opinion divided over Ravalomanana", IRIN, December 1, 2006.</ref><ref>"Voter apathy as election day approaches", IRIN, December 1, 2006.</ref> He is running for a second term in the presidential election scheduled for December 3, 2006. On November 18 his plane was forced to divert from Madagascar's capital during a return trip from Europe following reports of a coup underway in Antananarivo and shooting near the airport;<ref>Johnny Hogg, "Madagascar general urges overthrow", BBC News, November 18, 2006.</ref> however, this alleged coup attempt was unsuccessful.

Ravalomanana is known for his fervent Christian faith.<ref name=Cornwall/> His son married Gergana Georgieva, a Bulgarian, in March 2004.

[edit] References

Présidents de Madagascar / Presidents of Madagascar Image:Flag of Madagascar.svg
Philibert Tsiranana (1960 - 1972)
Gabriel Ramanantsoa (1972 - 1975)
Richard Ratsimandrava (1975)
Gilles Andriamahazo (1975)
Didier Ratsiraka (1975 - 1993)
Albert Zafy (1993 - 1996)
Norbert Ratsirahonana (1996 - 1997)
Didier Ratsiraka (1997 - 2002)
Marc Ravalomanana (2002- )