Andry Rajoelina, President of Madagascar (since Jan 19, 2019)

Andry Nirina Rajoelina (born 30 May 1974) a Malagasy businessman and politician, is the president of Madagascar. He started his career in the private sector, first organizing events on the Island (Live concerts), and then investing the advertising business (Injet, billboards and print) and the media (Viva, TV and radio). He was the Mayor of Antananarivo from December 2007 to February 2009, and President of the High Transitional Authority of Madagascar from 21 March 2009 to 25 January 2014, up until the general elections were held in 2013.

After stepping down as President of the HAT, he remained head of the majority party, the MAPAR. After winning the 2018 presidential election, he was inaugurated on 19 January 2019.

Hery Rajaonarimampianina, President of Madagascar (elected on Dec 20, 2013)

Hery Rajaonarimampianina was born on November 6, 1958 to a modest family. He lived in Sabotsy Namena, neighborhood of Antananarivo, Madagascar. In 1982, Rajaonarimampianina obtained a MBA at the “Etablissement d’Enseignement Supérieur de Droit, d’Economie, de Gestion et de Sciences Sociales (EESDEGS) – Université d’Ankatso Antananarivo. Then, he moved to Canada to complete his training in finance and accounting at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, receiving a postgraduate diploma (DEA) in accounting science in 1986. Rajaonarimampianina obtained the Canadian Diploma of Accounting from the Certified General Accountant’s Association (C.G.A) in 1991.

In 1991, Rajaonarimampianina went back to Madagascar and worked as accountant. He also became the studies director of the National Institute for Business Administration and Accounting Science (INSCAE) in Antananarivo (Madagascar) and teacher assistant at the Antananarivo University (Madagascar) and at the Institut of Business Administration (IAE) of the Metz University (France).

In 1995, Rajaonarimampianina created the accountant firm Auditeurs Associes – C.G.A, in Antananarivo. With 50 associates, the firm operates throughout Madagascar for private commercial companies either national or international. It also assists entities in their projects supported by international fundraisers.

In 2003 he was elected President of the “Ordre des Experts Comptables et Commissaires aux Comptes de Madagascar” (Professional Order of Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors of Madagascar) and appointed Vice-Président of the “Conseil Supérieur de la Comptabilité” (Superior Accounting Council) and counsel of the “Comité pour la Sauvegarde de l’Intégrité”

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hery_Rajaonarimampianina

Andry Rajoelina, Former President of Madagascar

Andry Rajoelina, President of Madagascar

On 17 March 2009, democratically elected President Marc Ravalomanana resigned and handed the reins of the government over to the military. The military in turn conferred the presidency on opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, who will head the High Transition Authority.

Andry Nirina Rajoelina (born 1975) is a Malagasy politician and former professional DJ. He was the Mayor of the city of Antananarivo from December 2007 to February 2009 and is the main opposition leader in Madagascar.He is nicknamed “TGV”, after the high-speed TGV rail service in France, because of his rapid-fire personality.

The initials are also the acronym for the movement he leads – Tanora malaGasy Vonona (Young Malagasies Determined).

And he rattled on to Madagascar’s political scene like a speeding train to stand for mayor in the capital, Antananarivo, in December 2007.

He had, it seemed, come from nowhere. But for many this was part of his appeal. His message was upbeat and youthful – a call for young Malagasy to seize the day.His campaign was slick and brash, featuring pumping music and trendy T-shirts emblazoned with his face. He is nicknamed “TGV”, after the high-speed TGV rail service in France, because of his rapid-fire personality.

The initials are also the acronym for the movement he leads – Tanora malaGasy Vonona (Young Malagasies Determined).

And he rattled on to Madagascar’s political scene like a speeding train to stand for mayor in the capital, Antananarivo, in December 2007.

He had, it seemed, come from nowhere. But for many this was part of his appeal.

His message was upbeat and youthful – a call for young Malagasy to seize the day.

His campaign was slick and brash, featuring pumping music and trendy T-shirts emblazoned with his face.

Marc Ravalomanana, Former President of Madagascar

Marc Ravalomanana, Former President of Madagascar

Marc Ravalomanana officially took office as the President of the Malagasy Republic on May 6th, 2002.

Marc Ravalomanana was born on December 12th, 1949 in a family of eight children. He is from Imerikasinina, a village to the east of Antananarivo, where he grew and did his first studies. He is married to Lalao Rakotonirainy and has one daughter and three sons.

Marc Ravalomanana is an inspiring example of a self-made man. Starting with a small yogurt processing unit run by his family, and with continual investments, he succeeded in setting up first the TIKO Company, then the TIKO Group, which he chaired until recently. The TIKO Group has become the most successful agro-business in the country and has made Marc Ravalomanana one of the richest men in Madagascar.

Marc Ravalomanana went into politics in 1999 as a candidate for Mayor of Antananarivo, the capital city. He won by a large margin and proceeded to make many positive changes. In particular, his improvements in hygiene and sanitation made him immensely popular with the city’s residents.

Marc Ravalomanana has a pragmatic and rigorous spirit. A man of action with practical experience, he sometimes surprises people around him by his willingness to quickly move forward, sometimes going against the traditional “mora mora” (slowly, slowly) Malagasy way, and by his straightforward language.

On the other hand, he is a man with a deep spiritual life and is known to be a fervent Protestant.

Marc Ravalomanana remains strongly attached to the land, the rural world and the environment. He is a promoter of the “made in Madagascar” label and advocates Malagasy culture and language at every opportunity. This accounts for his use of the Malagasy language in many of his speeches, even though he speaks French and English as well.

Marc Ravalomanana has a passion for airplanes, and he likes to be in touch with the population.

His challenge for Madagascar is to build new infrastructures, especially roads.

His priorities in governance are to: