Third Republic of Madagascar

Republic of Madagascar
Repoblikan'i Madagasikara République de Madagascar
1992–2010
Flag Seal
Motto Tanindrazana, Fahafahana, Fandrosoana "Fatherland, Freedom, Progress"
Anthem Ry Tanindrazanay malala ô! "Oh, beloved land of our ancestors!"
Location of the Republic of Madagascar in Africa
Capital		Antananarivo
Languages		Malagasy · French · English
Religion		Christianity · Traditional beliefs
Government		Republic
President
•	1992–1993; 1997-2002	Didier Ratsiraka
•	1993-1996	Albert Zafy
•	1996-1997	Norbert Ratsirahonana
•	2002-2009	Marc Ravalomanana
•	2009–2010	Andry Rajoelina
Prime Minister
•	1992–1993	Guy Razanamasy (first)
•	2009–2010	Albert Vital (last)
Legislature		Parliament
•	Upper house	Senate
•	Lower house	National Assembly
History
•	Established	September 12, 1992
•	Constitution adopted	December 11, 2010
Area
•	1992	587,040 km² (226,657 sq mi)
Population
•	1992 est.	12,596,263
Density		21.5 /km²  (55.6 /sq mi)
•	2010 est.	21,281,844
Density		36.3 /km²  (93.9 /sq mi)
Currency		Malagasy franc (until 2005) Malagasy ariary
Preceded by Succeeded by Democratic Republic of Madagascar High Transitional Authority Madagascar
Today part of		Madagascar

The Third Republic of Madagascar (officially called the Republic of Madagascar (Malagasy: Repoblikan'i Madagasikaray, French: République de Madagascar)) refers to the 18-year-long period in Malagasy history after the dissolution of the socialist regime in 1992.

A new draft constitution was approved by 75 percent of those voting in a national referendum on August 19, 1992. The first round of presidential elections followed on November 25. Frontrunner Albert Zafy won 46 percent of the popular vote as the Forces Vives candidate, and Didier Ratsiraka, as leader of his own newly created progovernment front, the Militant Movement for Malagasy Socialism (Mouvement Militant pour le Socialisme Malgache – MMSM), won approximately 29 percent of the vote. The remaining votes were split among a variety of other candidates. Because neither candidate obtained a majority of the votes cast, a second round of elections between the two frontrunners was held on February 10, 1993. Zafy emerged victorious with nearly 67 percent of the popular vote.

The Third Republic officially was inaugurated on March 27, 1993, when Zafy was sworn in as president. The victory of the Forces Vives was further consolidated in elections held on June 13, 1993, for 138 seats in the newly created National Assembly. Voters turned out in low numbers (roughly 30 to 40 percent abstained) because they were being called upon to vote for the fourth time in less than a year. The Forces Vives and other allied parties won seventy-five seats. This coalition gave Zafy a clear majority and enabled him to choose Francisque Ravony of the Forces Vives as prime minister.