President attributes Madagascar' poverty to political instability

Political instability is the reason of Madagascar's poverty, the Malagasy President Hery Rajaonarimampianina said on Friday during the celebration of the 55th anniversary of independence of the country.

"The reason of poverty in Madagascar is the political instability from the Malagasy and sometimes our relationship with other countries during the 55 years of independence," the President said.

He said that ten heads of states succeeded since 1960, but most of them were issued from popular uprisings while only few are made in peace and stability.

"Many presidents and politicians had to go into exile, while another was murdered in broad based exercise," he said, adding that unstability is one of the obstacles to the development of the country.

Madagascar, which celebrates its national day on June 26, has 10 successive heads of state for its 55 years of independence, including six civilians and four military.

Among these 10 heads of state, five were elected and five were appointed by the powers.

The first Madagascar's President Philibert Tsiranana, called as the "father of independence" was elected by the provincial councils on May 1, 1959 and led the country during the First Republic.

After leading the country for 13 years, Philibert Tsiranana had to leave power to the General Gabriel Ramanantsoa, on May 18, 1972 amid a street demonstration followed by a massacre on May 13, 1972.

Gabriel Ramanantsoa led the country for only three years, by installing a military and technicians in the government and leaving aside the politicians. Following a disagreement within his entourage, he gave full powers to his Internal Minister, Colonel Richard Ratsimandrava on Feb. 5, 1975.

The latter grabbed many positions in the same time as president of the country, Prime minister, Defense and Planning minister. Six days only were given to the colonel to lead the country and he was assassinated on Feb. 11, 1975 evening in the city center of Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital.

A military board was installed to ensure the continuity of the State in the night of the murder of Colonel Ratsimandrava and was led by General Gilles Andriamahazo.

After four months of leading, the members of the military board elected the navy Captain Didier Ratsiraka to lead Madagascar on June 15, 1975. The latter organized a referendum on socialist revolution charter, which elected the second Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Madagascar on Dec. 30, 1975.

Another street demonstration was triggered in 1991. A big march to Iavoloha palace in the extreme south of the capital was led by Professor Albert Zafy to counter Ratsiraka, causing thousands of deaths.

A presidential election voted Albert Zafy by implementing the third Republic and ousted Ratsiraka after 16 years in power. Professor Zafy was impeached by the parliament wich was accepted by the High Constitutional Court (HCC), on Sept. 5, 1996.

The HCC appointed Norbert Lala Ratsirahonana to lead a transition before the release of the official results of the presidential election. Didier Ratsiraka was the winner of this election and returned to power on Feb. 9, 1997.

A new street demonstration exploded once again after the presidential election in December, 2001. The former mayor of the capital Marc Ravalomanana rejected the result of the election and self proclaimed winner at the first round with over 50 percent of votes. After bloody conflicts between the Ratsiraka and Ravalomanana, the latter took the power and Ratsiraka fled to exile in France in 2002.

Street demonstration, which exploded again in the country in December 2008 following political conflicts between President Ravalomanana and the mayor of the capital Andry Rajoelina, pushed Ravalomanana to give up the power to a military Directorate on Dec. 17, 2009.

Hours after, the military directorate transferred this power to Andry Rajoelina as President of Transition. This decision was accepted by the HCC.

Ravalomanana went to exile in South Africa while Ratsiraka returned to the country.

A presidential election was held in the country on Dec. 20, 2013. Rajoelina's candidate Hery Rajaonarimampianina won the election from Ravalomanana's candidate, Jean Louis Robinson. Hery Rajaonarimampianina took office as President of the Republic since Jan. 25, 2014 for a five year term.

Ravalomanana returned home and Hery Rajaonarimampianina organized a national reconciliation that has been able to raise five successive heads of states, including Ratsiraka, Zafy, Ravalomanana and Rajoelina Rajaonarimampianina around a table.

Currently, Ravalomanana support Hery Rajaoarimampianina and Rajoelina became into opposition against the current president. Endi