Hery Rajaonarimampianina

Hery Martial Rajaonarimampianina Rakotoarimanana (Malagasy: [heˈri radzawˌnariˈmampʲanː]; French: [əʁi ʁaʒaɔnaʁimãpjanina]; born November 6, 1958) is a Malagasy politician who was President of Madagascar from January 2014 to September 2018, resigning to run for re-election. Previously he served as Minister of Finance under President Andry Rajoelina, and he was the Rajoelina political movement's candidate in the 2013 presidential election. He won the vote in a second round, defeating Jean-Louis Robinson, the candidate of Marc Ravalomanana's party.[1] Once he was elected, Rajaonarimampianina held the world record of the head of state with the longest name (44 characters) as well as family name (19 characters).[2]

His Excellency Hery Rajaonarimampianina
6th President of Madagascar
In office 25 January 2014 – 7 September 2018
Prime Minister	Omer Beriziky Roger Kolo Jean Ravelonarivo Olivier Solonandrasana Christian Ntsay
Preceded by	Andry Rajoelina (as President of the High Transitional Authority)
Succeeded by	Rivo Rakotovao (acting)
Personal details
Born	Hery Martial Rajaonarimampianina Rakotoarimanana 6 November 1958 Antananarivo, Madagascar
Political party	Hery Vaovao ho an'i Madagasikara
Spouse(s)	Voahangy Rajaonarimampianina
Alma mater	University of Antananarivo University of Quebec, Trois-Rivieres
Website	Campaign website original link Official Facebook Page

Early life

Hery Rajaonarimampianina was born to a modest family. He lived in Sabotsy Namehana, neighborhood of Antananarivo, Madagascar. In 1982, Rajaonarimampianina obtained an MBA at the "Etablissement d’Enseignement Supérieur de Droit, d’Economie, de Gestion et de Sciences Sociales (EESDEGS) – Université d’Ankatso Antananarivo.[3] Then, he moved to Canada to complete his training in finance and accounting at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières,[4] receiving a postgraduate diploma (DEA) in accounting science in 1986. Rajaonarimampianina obtained the Canadian Diploma of Accounting from the Certified General Accountant’s Association (C.G.A) in 1991.[5]

In 1991, Rajaonarimampianina went back to Madagascar and worked as an accountant. He also became the studies director of the National Institute for Business Administration and Accounting Science (INSCAE)[6] in Antananarivo (Madagascar) and teacher assistant at the Antananarivo University (Madagascar) and at the Institut of Business Administration (IAE) of the Metz University (France).[7]

In 1995, Rajaonarimampianina created the accountant firm Auditeurs Associes – C.G.A, in Antananarivo. With 50 associates, the firm operates throughout Madagascar for private commercial companies both domestic and international. It also assists entities in their projects supported by international fundraisers.

In 2003 he was elected President of the "Ordre des Experts Comptables et Commissaires aux Comptes de Madagascar" (Professional Order of Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors of Madagascar) and appointed Vice-Président of the "Conseil Supérieur de la Comptabilité" (Superior Accounting Council[8]) and counsel of the "Comité pour la Sauvegarde de l’Intégrité" (Committee for the Safeguarding of the Integrity[9]).

Political career

In 2009, Rajaonarimampianina became Minister of Finance and Budget, at a time marked by the withdrawal of the main international funders of Madagascar since 2008.[10]

2013 presidential election

Rajaonarimampianina set up the political organisation "Hery Vaovao hoan'i Madagasikara" in 2013[11] ("New Forces for Madagascar")[12] and ran for Presidency with 32 other competitors. His major opponents were Andry Nirina Rajoelina from the ruling political party Tanora Gasy Vonona (TGV), the proxy of the former président Marc Ravalomanana, Jean-Louis Robinson from Antoko ny Vahoaka Aloha No Andrianina (AVANA) party and two former Prime Ministers of the High Transitional Authority Albert Camille Vital and Roindefo Zafitsimivalo Monja.

After the first round Rajaonarimampianina received 15.62%, second to Robinson. The sum of all opponents of former President Ravalomanana's party received 55% of the vote.[13]

Before the second round, he gathered his party members and supporters in many rallies,[14] including Roland Ratsiraka, nephew of former President Didier Ratsiraka[15] and Pierrot Rajaonarivelo.[16] He also gained support from Andry Rajoelina,[17] the sitting President of the High Transitional Authority, after it was determined that Rajoelina was ineligible to run because he had not submitted his candidacy documents in time.[18]

In the second round, Hery Rajaonarimampianina quickly led[19][20] the first preliminary results of the election established by the Independent National Electoral Commission of the Transition (CENIT) in elections that international observers deemed "free, transparent, reliable and credible".[21][22]

Impeachment attempt

On 26 May 2015, the Parliament of Madagascar voted to remove the president from office, due to "alleged constitutional violations and general incompetence".[23] The constitutional court disallowed the motion under the grounds the accusations were unfounded and then inadmissible.

Religion and politics

Rajaonarimampianina has been accused by critics of threatening Madagascar's secular constitution by sponsoring church events and often appearing at churches at rallies. This is not entirely new in Madagascar's history as Rajaonarimapianina's predecessor Marc Ravalomanana was a senior member of the FJKM and Andry Rajoelina was a devout Catholic, both using events of their respective denominations to boost support.[24] Rajaonarimampianina has only appeared and sponsored the events of denominations in Madagascar that have a large number of adherents, namely the Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, the Malagasy Lutheran Church, and the Anglican Church, while ignoring other smaller religious denominations such as the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, and the country's Muslim minority which have fewer followers.[25]

2018 presidential election

On 8 September 2018 Rajaonarimampianina officially resigned from the presidential office and declared his candidacy for the 2018 election. According to the Malagasy constitution incumbent candidates must resign at least 60 days before in order to be eligible for reelection. On his last official day of his term Rajaonarimampianina named new army generals and appointed new ambassadors to China and Russia.[26]

References

1. "Q&A: Madagascar election run-off". BBC News. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
2. Chalabi, Mona (3 January 2014). "Hery Rajaonarimampianina and the global leaders with the longest names". Retrieved 17 January 2017 – via The Guardian.
3. ":: Université d'Antananarivo ::". Univ-antananarivo.mg. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
4. "Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières". Uqtr.ca. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
5. "Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières – Welcome". Uqtr.ca. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
6. R. M. Randrianarisata. "Accueil". Inscae.mg. Archived from the original on 2014-01-10. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
7. "Présentation de l'ESM-IAE | Universite Paul Verlaine – Metz : ESM-IAE" (in French). Esm.univ-metz.fr. Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
8. "Conseil Supérieur de la Comptabilité – L'ORDRE DES EXPERTS COMPTABLES ET FINANCIERS DE MADAGASCAR" (in French). Csc.mg. Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
9. "Comité pour la Sauvegarde de l'Intégrité – Madagascar" (in French). Csi.gov.mg. 2013-11-21. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
10. "| Madagascar: les bailleurs ont suspendu leurs aides budgêtaires | Jeuneafrique.com – le premier site d'information et d'actualité sur l'Afrique" (in French). Jeuneafrique.com. 2013-12-22. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
11. Quartier Général – Hery Vaovao ho an'i Madagasikara. "Hery Rajaonarimampianina ~ Hery Vaovao ho an'i Madagasikara". Heryvaovao.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
12. Rajaonarimampianina, Hery (2013-12-19). "Hery Rajaonarimampianina: My Plan for Malagasy Renewal - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
13. Ndimby A. "Vers in second tour cahin-caha". Madagascar-Tribune.com. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
14. "Les pro-Rajaonarimampianina alignent (Mahajanga) – actualities en direct avec l'Express de Madagascar". Lexpressmada.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
15. "Madagascar : Roland Ratsiraka appelle à voter pour Hery Rajaonarimampianina". Zinfos974.com. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
16. "Pierrot Rajaonarivelo: A fond pour l'élection d'Hery Rajaonarimampianina". Lagazette-dgi.com. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
17. Klaas, Brian (November 4, 2013). "Madagascar's democratic transition still afloat as Robinson and Rajaonarimampianina face off in round two". African Arguments. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
18. Polgreen, Lydia (August 18, 2013). "Top Presidential Candidates Barred From Election in Madagascar". New York Times. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
19. "Moov | Premier portail Internet de Madagascar". Moov.mg. 2013-12-23. Archived from the original on 2014-01-26. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
20. "Madagascar/présidentielle : Hery Rajaonarimampianina mène sur les 3.047 bureaux de vote". French.china.org.cn. 2013-12-22. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
21. "Centre d'actualités de l'ONU – Madagascar : l'ONU salue le bon déroulement du deuxième tour des élections présidentielles". Un.org. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
22. "Prêsidentielle malgache | Madagascar : les êlections ont êtê libres, selon le Centre Carter et l'EISA | Jeuneafrique.com – le premier site d'information et d'actualité sur l'Afrique". Jeuneafrique.com. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
23. "Madagascan parliament votes to remove president from office". The Guardian. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
24. Lovasoa Rabary (27 May 2015). "Madagascar president challenges impeachment vote count". Reuters. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
25. "Politique et religion - Clins d'œil intéressés de Hery Rajaonarimampianina" (in French). La Vérité. 1 September 2017. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
26. Rivonala Razafison (8 September 2018). "Madagascar president resigns ahead of November poll". The EastAfrican. Retrieved 12 September 2018.