Rajemison Rakotomaharo
Encyclopedia
Guy Rajemison Rakotomaharo (born January 12, 1950) is a Malagasy
politician who has been Vice-President of Madagascar since September 2008. Previously he was President of the Senate of Madagascar
from 2002 to 2008 and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva
from 2008 to 2009.
Rakotomaharo, a Merina
, was born in Andilamena
. From 1973 to 1990, he was an advisor to the Director-General of the Maritime Auxiliary of Madagascar (Auximad); subsequently, from 1990 to 1992 he was director of an Auximad agency and then administrative and financial director of a French company. He was Professor of Economics and Management at the University of Antananarivo
, as well as at the Higher Institute of Business and Management Communication (ISCAM), from 1992 to 1996, and he held important positions at TIKO
, Marc Ravalomanana
's dairy company, from 1996 to 1999. Ravalomanana was elected as Mayor of Antananarivo
in November 1999, and Rakotomaharo, who supported him, was elected as a municipal councillor from the Second Arrondissement of Antananarivo. Under Ravalomanana, he was appointed as Deputy Mayor of Antananarivo in February 2000.
In the December 2001 presidential election
, Rakotomaharo was Ravalomanana's campaign director. After the election, Ravalomanana declared victory and took office as President under controversial circumstances, and Rakotomaharo served as Interim Mayor of Antananarivo in 2002. He was chosen as a member of the national political bureau of the Tiako i Madagasikara
(TIM) ruling party in mid-2002. He was also appointed by Ravalomanana as a Senator, and on July 24, 2002 he was elected as President of the Senate.
In the April 2008 Senate election, Rakotomaharo was elected to another term in the Senate from Analamanga
region; he received unanimous support from the 147 electors who voted, despite the presence of three other candidates. Yvan Randriasandratriniony
was subsequently elected to succeed Rakotomaharo as President of the Senate on May 6, 2008. Rakotomaharo officially proposed Randriasandratriniony for the position, and he said that the decision that he would not serve a second term was an internal TIM matter. Rakotomaharo was instead elected as First Vice-President of the Senate. At a TIM congress later in May 2008, Rakotomaharo was not included in the party's political bureau.
Rakotomaharo was subsequently appointed as Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva
, and he was accordingly replaced as First Vice-President of the Senate by Noël Rakotondramboa
on July 2, 2008. He was also replaced in his Senate seat. He departed Madagascar to take up his new post on July 12, 2008.
President Ravalomanana was forced out of office through popular protests and military intervention in March 2009; opposition leader Andry Rajoelina
assumed the presidency with support from the military. On March 23, 2009, Rajoelina's High Authority of the Transition revoked the appointment of various ambassadors, but it notably left Rakotomaharo in his post. Rakotomaharo was subsequently present at the national conference which began on April 2, 2009 and was promoted by Rajoelina's government; he was invited to attend by the High Authority of the Transition due to his status as a former President of the Senate, and he said that he was representing only himself. His presence, indicating disloyalty to his party, was perceived as a setback to the TIM.
Rajoelina appointed Rakotomaharo as Vice-President on 8 September 2009; he also appointed a new government on the same date. He ostensibly did so in the spirit of the Maputo agreement between Malagasy political leaders, which called for the creation of a national unity government, but the opposition denounced Rajoelina's appointments, and Rakotomaharo was considered to have completely broken with Ravalomanana.
Rakotomaharo is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar
.
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
politician who has been Vice-President of Madagascar since September 2008. Previously he was President of the Senate of Madagascar
Senate of Madagascar
The Senate of Madagascar is the upper chamber of the bicameral Parliament of Madagascar. The Senate has 33 members: 22 are indirectly elected, one from each of the 22 regions of Madagascar, and 11 are appointed by the President....
from 2002 to 2008 and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva
United Nations Office at Geneva
The United Nations Office at Geneva is the second-largest of the four major office sites of the United Nations...
from 2008 to 2009.
Rakotomaharo, a Merina
Merina
The Merina are an ethnic group from Madagascar. The Merina are concentrated in the Highlands and speak the official dialect of the Malagasy language, which is a branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language group derived from the Barito languages, spoken in southern Borneo. Their ancestors, the...
, was born in Andilamena
Andilamena
Andilamena is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Andilamena, which is a part of Alaotra-Mangoro Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 21,000 in 2001 commune census....
. From 1973 to 1990, he was an advisor to the Director-General of the Maritime Auxiliary of Madagascar (Auximad); subsequently, from 1990 to 1992 he was director of an Auximad agency and then administrative and financial director of a French company. He was Professor of Economics and Management at the University of Antananarivo
University of Antananarivo
University of Antananarivo is the primary public university of Madagascar, located in the capital Antananarivo.The school traces its founding to 16 December 1955 and the formation of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Antananarivo. It quickly established itself as the main center for higher...
, as well as at the Higher Institute of Business and Management Communication (ISCAM), from 1992 to 1996, and he held important positions at TIKO
Tiko
Tiko, Originally called ‘Keka’ by the Bakweris, is a town and important port in the southwest region of Cameroon. The settlement grew as a market town for Duala fishermen, Bakweri farmers and hunters from Molyko, Bwenga, Bulu and Bokova...
, 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...
's dairy company, from 1996 to 1999. Ravalomanana was elected as Mayor of Antananarivo
Antananarivo
Antananarivo , formerly Tananarive , is the capital and largest city in Madagascar. It is also known by its French colonial shorthand form Tana....
in November 1999, and Rakotomaharo, who supported him, was elected as a municipal councillor from the Second Arrondissement of Antananarivo. Under Ravalomanana, he was appointed as Deputy Mayor of Antananarivo in February 2000.
In 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...
, Rakotomaharo was Ravalomanana's campaign director. After the election, Ravalomanana declared victory and took office as President under controversial circumstances, and Rakotomaharo served as Interim Mayor of Antananarivo in 2002. He was chosen as a member of the national political bureau of the 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) ruling party in mid-2002. He was also appointed by Ravalomanana as a Senator, and on July 24, 2002 he was elected as President of the Senate.
In the April 2008 Senate election, Rakotomaharo was elected to another term in the Senate from Analamanga
Analamanga
Analamanga is a region in Madagascar, containing the capital Antananarivo and surrounding metropolitan area.Analamanga means "blue forest". It's also an older name for Antananarivo.*Capital: Antananarivo-Renivohitra.*Area: 17,445 km²*Population: 2,650,000...
region; he received unanimous support from the 147 electors who voted, despite the presence of three other candidates. Yvan Randriasandratriniony
Yvan Randriasandratriniony
Yvan Randriasandratriniony is a Malagasy politician who has been President of Tiako i Madagasikara , the ruling party, since October 2007. He was Minister of Agriculture, Breeding and Fishing from March 2002 to January 2004, Minister near the Presidency in charge of Decentralization and Regional...
was subsequently elected to succeed Rakotomaharo as President of the Senate on May 6, 2008. Rakotomaharo officially proposed Randriasandratriniony for the position, and he said that the decision that he would not serve a second term was an internal TIM matter. Rakotomaharo was instead elected as First Vice-President of the Senate. At a TIM congress later in May 2008, Rakotomaharo was not included in the party's political bureau.
Rakotomaharo was subsequently appointed as Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, and he was accordingly replaced as First Vice-President of the Senate by Noël Rakotondramboa
Noël Rakotondramboa
Noël Rakotondramboa is a Malagasy politician. A member of the Tiako I Madagasikara party, he was the First Vice-President of the Senate of Madagascar from 2008 to 2009.-References:*...
on July 2, 2008. He was also replaced in his Senate seat. He departed Madagascar to take up his new post on July 12, 2008.
President Ravalomanana was forced out of office through 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....
assumed the presidency with support from the military. On March 23, 2009, Rajoelina's High Authority of the Transition revoked the appointment of various ambassadors, but it notably left Rakotomaharo in his post. Rakotomaharo was subsequently present at the national conference which began on April 2, 2009 and was promoted by Rajoelina's government; he was invited to attend by the High Authority of the Transition due to his status as a former President of the Senate, and he said that he was representing only himself. His presence, indicating disloyalty to his party, was perceived as a setback to the TIM.
Rajoelina appointed Rakotomaharo as Vice-President on 8 September 2009; he also appointed a new government on the same date. He ostensibly did so in the spirit of the Maputo agreement between Malagasy political leaders, which called for the creation of a national unity government, but the opposition denounced Rajoelina's appointments, and Rakotomaharo was considered to have completely broken with Ravalomanana.
Rakotomaharo is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar
Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar
The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar is the second-largest Christian denomination in Madagascar. The FJKM is the national church of Madagascar, but it is not the established church of the state....
.