Roland Ratsiraka
Encyclopedia
Iarovana Roland Ratsiraka (born August 15, 1966) is a Malagasy
politician
.
Born in Antananarivo
, Roland is the nephew of former President Didier Ratsiraka
. He studied both in Madagascar and in France, before founding several companies.
In 1996, Roland's uncle appointed him Director of Propaganda for the Tamatave region. In 1998, he founded the regional political association Toamsina Tonga Saina (TTS), and was elected to the National Assembly of Madagascar
as a Deputy for Toamasina
. In 1999, he was elected as Mayor
of the city, but the post was suspended in 2002.
In the municipal election held on November 23, 2003, Ratsiraka, as the TTS candidate, was victorious, regaining his position as Mayor and defeating Barnest Andriamiarantsoa, the candidate of the ruling Tiako I Madagasikara
(TIM). His victory was officially announced on December 8 by the provincial electoral court.
Ratsiraka stood in the presidential election
held on December 3, 2006, and he placed third, with 10.14% of the votes cast, according to final results. In his home province of Toamasina
, he won 34.74% of the vote, two points less than the winner of the election, incumbent President Marc Ravalomanana
. He also received significant support in Antsiranana Province
, where he won 20.39% of the vote. Following the release of the provisional results, which showed Ravalomanana winning in the first round, Ratsiraka, along with second place candidate Jean Lahiniriko
, said that the results were false, and on December 11 he filed a challenge with the Constitutional High Court regarding the election.
Ratsiraka was suspended as Mayor beginning on February 15, 2007, initially for a period of one month. On April 19, 2007, he was arrested and imprisoned for alleged corruption related to garbage collection. His supporters protested on his behalf in Toamasina, but after looting occurred they were banned from doing so.
On October 5, 2007, Ratsiraka was given an 18-month deferred sentence; he was released on the same day.
President Ravalomanana was forced to resign amidst a political crisis in March 2009, and opposition leader Andry Rajoelina
took power. Rajoelina set up the High Transitional Authority
(HAT) as the ruling body, and Ratsiraka was appointed as one of the HAT's 44 members on March 31, 2009.
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Born in Antananarivo
Antananarivo
Antananarivo , formerly Tananarive , is the capital and largest city in Madagascar. It is also known by its French colonial shorthand form Tana....
, Roland is the nephew of former President Didier Ratsiraka
Didier Ratsiraka
Vice Admiral Didier Ratsiraka is a Malagasy politician who was President of Madagascar from 1975 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2002.-Second Republic:...
. He studied both in Madagascar and in France, before founding several companies.
In 1996, Roland's uncle appointed him Director of Propaganda for the Tamatave region. In 1998, he founded the regional political association Toamsina Tonga Saina (TTS), and was elected to the National Assembly of Madagascar
National Assembly of Madagascar
The Parliament has two chambers. The lower house is the National Assembly .The Assembly has 160 members, elected for a four year term in single-member and two-member constituencies...
as a Deputy for Toamasina
Toamasina
Toamasina , meaning "like salt" or "salty", unofficially and in French also Tamatave, is a city on the east coast of Madagascar on the Indian Ocean. The city is the chief seaport of the country, situated northeast of its capital and biggest city Antananarivo, near the centre of the eastern coast...
. In 1999, he was elected as Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the city, but the post was suspended in 2002.
In the municipal election held on November 23, 2003, Ratsiraka, as the TTS candidate, was victorious, regaining his position as Mayor and defeating Barnest Andriamiarantsoa, the candidate of the ruling 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). His victory was officially announced on December 8 by the provincial electoral court.
Ratsiraka stood in the presidential election
Malagasy presidential election, 2006
Presidential elections were held in Madagascar on 3 December 2006. President Marc Ravalomanana, in office since he prevailed in a dispute over election results in 2002, ran for re-election...
held on December 3, 2006, and he placed third, with 10.14% of the votes cast, according to final results. In his home province of Toamasina
Toamasina Province
Toamasina is a former province of Madagascar with an area of 71,911 km². It had a population of 2,855,600 . Its capital was Toamasina, the most important seaport of the country....
, he won 34.74% of the vote, two points less than the winner of the election, incumbent President 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...
. He also received significant support in Antsiranana Province
Antsiranana Province
Antsiranana is a former province of Madagascar with an area of 43,406 km2. It had a population of 1,188,425 . Its capital was Antsiranana. Notable is Ankarana Reserve.Antsiranana Province bordered the following provinces:...
, where he won 20.39% of the vote. Following the release of the provisional results, which showed Ravalomanana winning in the first round, Ratsiraka, along with second place candidate Jean Lahiniriko
Jean Lahiniriko
Jean Lahiniriko is a Malagasy politician. He served in the government of Madagascar as Minister of Public Works from 2002 to 2003 and was President of the National Assembly of Madagascar from 2003 to 2006. Subsequently he was the second place candidate in the 2006 presidential election...
, said that the results were false, and on December 11 he filed a challenge with the Constitutional High Court regarding the election.
Ratsiraka was suspended as Mayor beginning on February 15, 2007, initially for a period of one month. On April 19, 2007, he was arrested and imprisoned for alleged corruption related to garbage collection. His supporters protested on his behalf in Toamasina, but after looting occurred they were banned from doing so.
On October 5, 2007, Ratsiraka was given an 18-month deferred sentence; he was released on the same day.
President Ravalomanana was forced to resign amidst a political crisis in March 2009, and 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....
took power. Rajoelina set up the High Transitional Authority
High Transitional Authority
The High Transitional Authority is a provisional executive body that came to power in Madagascar following the coup that forced Marc Ravalomanana to leave the country on March 17, 2009 as a result of the 2009 Malagasy protests...
(HAT) as the ruling body, and Ratsiraka was appointed as one of the HAT's 44 members on March 31, 2009.