Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form:
Madagascar
local long form:
Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
local short form:
Madagascar/Madagasikara
former:
Malagasy Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name:
Antananarivo
geographic coordinates:
18 55 S, 47 31 E
time difference:
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Hi Trent,6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Independence:
26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Constitution:
previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010 (2012)
Legal system:
civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
[see also: Suffrage country ranks ]
:
chief of state:
President Hery Martial RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA Rakotoarimana (since 25 January 2014)
head of government:
Prime Minister Roger Laurent Christophe KOLO, M.D. (since 11 April 2014)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 December 2013 (next to be held in 2018); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president
election results:
Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA 53.5%, Jean Louis ROBINSON 46.5%
note:
on 17 March 2009, democratically elected President Marc RAVALOMANANA stepped down handing the government over to the military, which in turn conferred the presidency on opposition leader and Antananarivo mayor Andry RAJOELINA; a power-sharing agreement established a 15-month transition period to conclude with a general election in 2010, which failed to occur; a subsequent agreement aimed for an early 2013 election - the first round was held on 25 October 2013 and the second on 20 December 2013
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of a Senate or Senat (33 seats; 22 elected from each of the 22 regions; the remaining 11 appointed by the president; members to serve six-year terms) and a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (151 seats in the December 2013 election; reduced from 160 seats to 127 seats by an April 2007 national referendum - never used; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:
National Assembly - last held on 20 December 2013 (next to be held in 2017); note - a power-sharing agreement in the summer of 2009 established a 15-month transition, concluding in general elections scheduled for late 2013 after repeated delays
election results:
National Assembly - percent of vote by party - Party of Andry Rajoelina 17.3%, Ravalomannana Movement 10.8%, Vondrona Politika 8.2%, independents and others 63.7%; seats by party - Party of Andry Rajoelina 49, the Ravalomannana Movement 20, Malagasy Miara Mianinga 13, independents 25, seats with delayed elections 4, other 40
Judicial branch:
highest court(s):
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 11 members; addresses judicial administration issues only); High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 9 members)
note - the judiciary includes a High Court of Justice responsible for adjudicating crimes and misdemeanors by government officials including the president
judge selection and term of office:
Supreme Court heads elected by the president and judiciary officials to serve single-renewable, 3-year terms; High Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 each by the president, by both legislative bodies, and by the Council of Magistrates; members serve single, 6-year terms
subordinate courts:
Courts of Appeal; provincial and city tribunals
Political parties and leaders:
AVANA Party [Jean-Louis ROBINSON]
Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Manasse ESOAVELOMANDROSO]
Green Party or Parti Vert [Sarah Georget RABEHARISOA]
I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA]
Judged by Your Work or AVI [Norbert RATSIRAHONANA]
Malagasy Miara-Miainga or MMM [Hajo ANDRIANAINARIVELO]
Malagasy Tonga Saina or MTS [Roland RATSIRAKA]
Movement for Democracy in Madagascar or MDM [Pierrot RAJAONARIVELO]
New Force for Madagascar of FIDIO [Hery RAJAONARIMAMPIANINA]
Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]
Socialist and Democratic Party for the Unity of Madagascar or PSDUM [Jean LAHINIRIKO]
Union Party or Tambatra [Pety RAKOTONIAINA]
Young Malagasies Determined or TGV [Andry RAJOELINA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR
Committee for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]
National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Velotiana Rakotoanosy RAOBELINA (since 20 June 1011)
chancery:
2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 265-5525 through 5526
FAX:
[1] (202) 265-3034
consulate(s) general:
New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Eric WONG note - also accredited to Comoros
embassy:
Lot 207A, Point Liberty, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo
mailing address:
B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone:
[261] (23) 480 00/01
FAX:
[261] (23) 480 35
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side; by tradition, red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, white for purity
National anthem:
name:
"Ry Tanindraza nay malala o" (Oh, Our Beloved Fatherland)
lyrics/music: Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA
note: adopted 1959