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1st LD Writethru: Madagascar presidency names new Prime Minister

Xinhua, April 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Madagascar's Minister of Interior and Decentralization Mahafaly Solonandrasana Olivier was appointed as Prime Minister to replace Jean Ravelonarivo, secretary general of the presidency General Ralala Roger said on Sunday.

"Mr. Solonandrasana Mahafaly Olivier is appointed Prime Minister Chief of the government. All members of the current government continue the current affairs of the State until the appointment of the new members," Roger said.

Olivier was Minister of Interior and Decentralization during Ravelonarivo's government before being appointed the third Prime Minister of Madagascar's forth republic and the 19th Madagascar's Prime minister.

He was selected by Madagascar's President Hery Rajaonarimampianina among 13 names proposed by the parliament Sunday afternoon.

On Friday, the presidency announced that the navy General Jean Ravelonarivo resigned, but hours after the later said he did not signed any document about it. "The secretary general of the presidency announced my resignation when I still discussed with President Hery Rajaonarimampianina," Ravelonarivo said.

However, Ravelonarivo said he will sign the letter of his resignation for the high interest of the nation but he denounced only the lie done by the presidency on his resignation.

Olivier, 52, is married and father of three children. Graduated in philosophy, he is also a civil administrator and appointed minister of Interior and Decentralization since Aril 2014.

Olivier was evacuated in emergency in Reunion Island for stomach crisis early in March 2016. Endit