Eugène Mangalaza
Encyclopedia
Eugène Régis Mangalaza is a Malagasy
political figure who was appointed as Prime Minister of Madagascar
on 10 October 2009 under the terms of an agreement intended to resolve the 2009 political crisis.
Mangalaza was born in Ambodivoanio
, located in northeastern Madagascar
. As a professor, he taught at the University of Toliara during the 1980s and was Director of Personnel and Human Resources at the Autonomous Port of Toamasina
from 1987 to 1989. In the 1989 parliamentary election
, he was elected to the National People's Assembly as an AREMA
candidate in Mananara-Nord constituency. He served as a Deputy until the National People's Assembly was dissolved and transitional institutions were established in 1991. Mangalaza was also Rector of the University of Toamasina
from 1989 to 2002 and taught philosophy and anthropology there.
During the 2009 political crisis, the four main political factions reached an agreement on 6 October 2009 that provided for Andry Rajoelina
to remain in his position as Transitional President while also designating Mangalaza to replace Rajoelina ally Monja Roindefo
as Prime Minister. Mangalaza's name was proposed during the negotiations by Didier Ratsiraka
's faction and a consensus was reached on the selection of Mangalaza as Prime Minister. At the time, Mangalaza was viewed as a politically obscure figure, and his selection was considered surprising.
Rajoelina affirmed on 9 October that he would appoint Mangalaza to replace Roindefo. Nevertheless, Roindefo said on 10 October that he would not resign, insisting that he led a legal government and that it was "still fulfilling its mission". He stressed that the faction leaders had not signed the agreement and said that his government could not be removed by international mediators. Mangalaza arrived in Madagascar from Paris
on 10 October, and Rajoelina, ignoring Roindefo's objections, appointed Mangalaza as Prime Minister late on the same day.
Roindefo took the matter to the Council of State on 12 October 2009, requesting that it annul the decree appointing Mangalaza; he argued that the procedure was flawed and that the faction leaders needed to sign the agreement in order for it to become valid. The Council of State accordingly suspended the decree on 15 October, but lifted the suspension and refused to annul the appointment in its final ruling on 22 October 2009.
Malagasy people
The Malagasy ethnic group forms nearly the entire population of Madagascar. They are divided into two subgroups: the "Highlander" Merina, Sihanaka and Betsileo of the central plateau around Antananarivo, Alaotra and Fianarantsoa, and the côtiers elsewhere in the country. This division has its...
political figure who was appointed as Prime Minister of Madagascar
Prime Minister of Madagascar
This page contains a list of the Prime Ministers of Madagascar.-Prime Ministers of Madagascar :-Affiliations:*PSD - Social Democratic Party of Madagascar and the Comoros...
on 10 October 2009 under the terms of an agreement intended to resolve the 2009 political crisis.
Mangalaza was born in Ambodivoanio
Ambodivoanio
Ambodivoanio is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Mananara Nord, which is a part of Analanjirofo Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 9,000 in 2001 commune census....
, located in northeastern Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. As a professor, he taught at the University of Toliara during the 1980s and was Director of Personnel and Human Resources at the Autonomous Port of Toamasina
Toamasina
Toamasina , meaning "like salt" or "salty", unofficially and in French also Tamatave, is a city on the east coast of Madagascar on the Indian Ocean. The city is the chief seaport of the country, situated northeast of its capital and biggest city Antananarivo, near the centre of the eastern coast...
from 1987 to 1989. In the 1989 parliamentary election
Malagasy parliamentary election, 1989
Parliamentary elections were held in Madagascar on 28 May 1989. Only parties affiliated with the AREMA-dominated National Front for the Defense of the Revolution were allowed to compete in the election, and AREMA won 120 of the 137 seats....
, he was elected to the National People's Assembly as an AREMA
Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar
The Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or Pillar and Structure for the Salvation of Madagascar is a political party in Madagascar.*National secretary: Pierrot Rajaonarivelo...
candidate in Mananara-Nord constituency. He served as a Deputy until the National People's Assembly was dissolved and transitional institutions were established in 1991. Mangalaza was also Rector of the University of Toamasina
University of Toamasina
The University of Toamasina is a public university in Madagascar, in the city of Toamasina.The school was formerly part of the University of Madagascar system, along with public universities in Antanarivo, Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toliara and Fianarantsoa...
from 1989 to 2002 and taught philosophy and anthropology there.
During the 2009 political crisis, the four main political factions reached an agreement on 6 October 2009 that provided for Andry Rajoelina
Andry Rajoelina
Andry Nirina Rajoelina , born May 30 1974, is the former mayor of Antananarivo who became transitional head of state of Madagascar on March 21, 2009 after the 2009 Malagasy political crisis....
to remain in his position as Transitional President while also designating Mangalaza to replace Rajoelina ally Monja Roindefo
Monja Roindefo
Monja Roindefo Zafitsimivalo is a Malagasy politician who was Prime Minister of Madagascar from March 2009 to October 2009. He was appointed on 7 February 2009 by opposition leader Andry Rajoelina at the head of Rajoelina's rival government; later, on 17 March, Rajoelina was installed in power by...
as Prime Minister. Mangalaza's name was proposed during the negotiations by Didier Ratsiraka
Didier Ratsiraka
Vice Admiral Didier Ratsiraka is a Malagasy politician who was President of Madagascar from 1975 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2002.-Second Republic:...
's faction and a consensus was reached on the selection of Mangalaza as Prime Minister. At the time, Mangalaza was viewed as a politically obscure figure, and his selection was considered surprising.
Rajoelina affirmed on 9 October that he would appoint Mangalaza to replace Roindefo. Nevertheless, Roindefo said on 10 October that he would not resign, insisting that he led a legal government and that it was "still fulfilling its mission". He stressed that the faction leaders had not signed the agreement and said that his government could not be removed by international mediators. Mangalaza arrived in Madagascar from Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on 10 October, and Rajoelina, ignoring Roindefo's objections, appointed Mangalaza as Prime Minister late on the same day.
Roindefo took the matter to the Council of State on 12 October 2009, requesting that it annul the decree appointing Mangalaza; he argued that the procedure was flawed and that the faction leaders needed to sign the agreement in order for it to become valid. The Council of State accordingly suspended the decree on 15 October, but lifted the suspension and refused to annul the appointment in its final ruling on 22 October 2009.