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Didier Ratsiraka

Didier Ratsiraka
Didier Ratsiraka (cropped).jpeg
President of Madagascar
In office
9 February 1997 – 6 May 2002
Preceded by Albert Zafy
Succeeded by Marc Ravalomanana
President of the Supreme Revolutionary Council
In office
15 June 1975 – 27 March 1993
Preceded by Gilles Andriamahazo
Succeeded by Albert Zafy
Personal details
Born (1933-11-04) 4 November 1933 (age 83)
Vatomandry, French Madagascar
Political party Vanguard of the Malagasy Revolution
Spouse(s) Céline Velonjara

Vice Admiral Didier Ratsiraka (born 4 November 1933) is a Malagasy politician who was President of Madagascar from 1975 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2002.

Born in Vatomandry, Atsinanana Region, Ratsiraka served as Minister of Foreign Affairs under Gabriel Ramanantsoa from 1972 until 1975. Known as the "Red Admiral", he was made head of state, as President of the Supreme Revolutionary Council, by the military leadership on June 15, 1975. He began setting up a socialist system, guided by the Charter of the Malagasy Socialist Revolution, which was approved in a referendum held on December 21, 1975, establishing the Second Republic; Ratsiraka was also elected President for a seven-year term in this referendum, which received the backing of 95% of voters according to official results. The political party Vanguard of the Malagasy Revolution (FNDR) was founded; in 1989 its name was changed to AREMA (Andry sy Rihana Enti-Manavotra an'i Madagasikara) (Pillar and Structure for the Salvation of Madagascar).

In the midst of a poor economic situation, Ratsiraka began to abandon socialist policies after a few years in power and implemented reforms recommended by the International Monetary Fund. He was re-elected as President with 80% of the vote in 1982 and with 63% of the vote in 1989. The latter election was condemned as fraudulent by the opposition, which protested, and at least 75 people were killed in the resulting violence.

Ratsiraka faced intense opposition to his rule in 1991. On August 10, 1991, about 400,000 people marched on the Presidential Palace, and the Presidential Guard attacked the demonstrators with gunfire and grenades. The government placed the death toll at 11, although other reports placed the toll much higher. Ratsiraka said that he had not ordered the Presidential Guard to open fire, but Ratsiraka's orders have been recorded and in these records, he orders the helicopter to shoot the car of the HAS president and open fire on the strikers but the incident severely undermined his already precarious position. On 31 October, he signed the Panorama Convention, establishing a transitional government and stripping him of most of his powers; although he remained President, opposition leader Albert Zafy became head of the newly established High Authority of the State.


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