Philibert Tsiranana
Encyclopedia
Philibert Tsiranana was a Malagasy
politician and leader, who served as the first President of Madagascar from 1959 to 1972.
During the twelve years of his administration, the Republic of Madagascar enjoyed institutional stability that stood in contrast to the political turmoil many countries of the African mainland experienced in this period. This stability contributed to Tsiranana's popularity and his reputation as a remarkable statesman. Compared with the leaders of other developing countries of the time, his conduct appears honorable. Madagascar experienced moderate economic growth under his pragmatic socialist policies and came to be known as "the Happy Island." However, the democratization process was fraught with challenges and his term ultimately terminated in a political impasse that brought about the end of the democratic First Republic and ushered in the isolationist, Soviet-inspired socialist Second Republic.
The "benevolent schoolmaster" public image that Tsiranana cultivated disguised intense firmness that tended toward authoritarianism
. Nonetheless, he remains an esteemed Malagasy political figure remembered throughout the country as its "Father of Independence."
According to his official biography, Tsiranana was born on 18 October 1912 in Ambarikorano
, Sofia Region
, in northeastern Madagascar. Born to Madiomanana and Fisadoha Tsiranana, Catholic
cattle ranchers from the Tsimihety
ethnic group, Philibert was destined to become one himself. However, following the death of his father in 1923, Tsiranana's brother, Zamanisambo, suggested that he attend a primary school in Anjiamangirana
.
A brilliant student, Tsiranana was admitted into the regional school of Analalava
in 1926, where he graduated with a brevet des collèges
. In 1930, he enrolled in the Le Myre de Vilers normal school
in Tananarive, named after former resident-general of Madagascar Charles Le Myre de Vilers
, where he entered the "Section Normale" program, preparing him for a career teaching in primary schools. After completing his studies, he started a teaching career in his hometown. In 1942, he began receiving instruction in Tananarive for middle school
teaching and by 1945, he succeeded in the teacher assistant competitive examinations, allowing him to serve as a professor in a regional school. In 1946, he obtained a scholarship to the École normale d'instituteurs in Montpellier
, France
, where he worked as a teacher assistant. He left Madagascar on 6 November.
ethnic group. Well-educated, Tsiranana eventually entered politics and was elected to the National Assembly of Madagascar
. In 1956, he was elected to one of Madagascar's three seats in the French National Assembly
. He then helped to form the Social Democratic Party
(PSD), a moderate party which supported autonomy for Madagascar from France
, but not full independence. Tsiranana became vice-president of the executive council in 1957, being the only person to hold that new position in Madagascar. He became prime minister
in 1958, and, when it was decided that Madagascar would receive independence, he became a candidate for President
. In 1959, the post of Prime Minister was abolished and Tsiranana became Madagascar's first president.
Like most Africa
n leaders of his time, Tsiranana created an authoritarian, one-party state. By the 1960s, his Social Democratic Party was the only major political party in Madagascar. In 1971, his government brutally crushed a rebellion. Early in 1972, the government was confronted with student protests against the dominance of French culture and the many economic problems of Madagascar. The protests were crushed, but so much unrest was created that Tsiranana dissolved the government in May 1972 and appointed General Gabriel Ramanantsoa
as prime minister. In October 1972, Tsiranana resigned as President and handed power to Ramanantsoa. Though he still had some support within the country, Tsiranana had been severely ill for a couple of years and generally stayed out of politics for the few months before his death.
Tsiranana's son Philippe stood in the Malagasy presidential election, 2006
, placing twelfth with only 0.02% of the vote.
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...
politician and leader, who served as the first President of Madagascar from 1959 to 1972.
During the twelve years of his administration, the Republic of Madagascar enjoyed institutional stability that stood in contrast to the political turmoil many countries of the African mainland experienced in this period. This stability contributed to Tsiranana's popularity and his reputation as a remarkable statesman. Compared with the leaders of other developing countries of the time, his conduct appears honorable. Madagascar experienced moderate economic growth under his pragmatic socialist policies and came to be known as "the Happy Island." However, the democratization process was fraught with challenges and his term ultimately terminated in a political impasse that brought about the end of the democratic First Republic and ushered in the isolationist, Soviet-inspired socialist Second Republic.
The "benevolent schoolmaster" public image that Tsiranana cultivated disguised intense firmness that tended toward authoritarianism
Authoritarianism
Authoritarianism is a form of social organization characterized by submission to authority. It is usually opposed to individualism and democracy...
. Nonetheless, he remains an esteemed Malagasy political figure remembered throughout the country as its "Father of Independence."
Early life
Ambarikorano
Ambarikorano or Ambariokorano is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Mandritsara, which is a part of Sofia Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 9,000 in 2001 commune census....
, Sofia Region
Sofia Region
Sofia is a region in northern Madagascar. It is named for the Sofia River.* Capital: Antsohihy* Area: 50 800 km²Districts:*Mandritsara District*Befandriana-Nord District*Bealanana District*Antsohihy District*Analalava District...
, in northeastern Madagascar. Born to Madiomanana and Fisadoha Tsiranana, Catholic
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
cattle ranchers from the Tsimihety
Tsimihety
The Tsimihety are a Malagasy ethnic group located near the north-central coast of Madagascar. Their name means "those who do not cut their hair," in reference to their refusal to adhere to the customs imposed by the rule of Merina King Radama I., numbering around one million The Tsimihety are a...
ethnic group, Philibert was destined to become one himself. However, following the death of his father in 1923, Tsiranana's brother, Zamanisambo, suggested that he attend a primary school in Anjiamangirana
Anjiamangirana I
Anjiamangirana I is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Antsohihy, which is a part of Sofia Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 12,000 in 2001 commune census....
.
A brilliant student, Tsiranana was admitted into the regional school of Analalava
Analalava
Analalava is a coastal town and commune in north-western Madagascar over the Mozambique Channel. It is approximately 150 kilometres north of Mahajanga and some 430 kilometres north of the capital Antananarivo. It belongs to the district of Analalava, which is a part of Sofia Region...
in 1926, where he graduated with a brevet des collèges
Brevet des collèges
The National diploma is a diploma given to French pupils at the end of the , This diploma is awarded to students that are or were within French cultural influence, including France itself, Lebanon and Syria, the latter two within the scope of a League of Nations mandate to France after World War...
. In 1930, he enrolled in the Le Myre de Vilers normal school
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
in Tananarive, named after former resident-general of Madagascar Charles Le Myre de Vilers
Charles Le Myre de Vilers
Charles Le Myre de Vilers was governor of Cochinchina and resident-general of Madagascar . He was a member of the French National Assembly from 1889 to 1902 ....
, where he entered the "Section Normale" program, preparing him for a career teaching in primary schools. After completing his studies, he started a teaching career in his hometown. In 1942, he began receiving instruction in Tananarive for middle school
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
teaching and by 1945, he succeeded in the teacher assistant competitive examinations, allowing him to serve as a professor in a regional school. In 1946, he obtained a scholarship to the École normale d'instituteurs in Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where he worked as a teacher assistant. He left Madagascar on 6 November.
Later life
He was part of the TsimihetyTsimihety
The Tsimihety are a Malagasy ethnic group located near the north-central coast of Madagascar. Their name means "those who do not cut their hair," in reference to their refusal to adhere to the customs imposed by the rule of Merina King Radama I., numbering around one million The Tsimihety are a...
ethnic group. Well-educated, Tsiranana eventually entered politics and was elected to the National Assembly of Madagascar
National Assembly of Madagascar
The Parliament has two chambers. The lower house is the National Assembly .The Assembly has 160 members, elected for a four year term in single-member and two-member constituencies...
. In 1956, he was elected to one of Madagascar's three seats in the French National Assembly
French National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
. He then helped to form the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Madagascar and the Comoros
Social Democratic Party of Madagascar and the Comoros was a political party in Madagascar. The party was founded in 1956 in Majunga district. It was led by Philibert Tsiranana, a member of the French National Assembly. Tsiranana had joined the French Section of the Workers' International group,...
(PSD), a moderate party which supported autonomy for Madagascar from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, but not full independence. Tsiranana became vice-president of the executive council in 1957, being the only person to hold that new position in Madagascar. He became prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
in 1958, and, when it was decided that Madagascar would receive independence, he became a candidate for President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
. In 1959, the post of Prime Minister was abolished and Tsiranana became Madagascar's first president.
Like most Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n leaders of his time, Tsiranana created an authoritarian, one-party state. By the 1960s, his Social Democratic Party was the only major political party in Madagascar. In 1971, his government brutally crushed a rebellion. Early in 1972, the government was confronted with student protests against the dominance of French culture and the many economic problems of Madagascar. The protests were crushed, but so much unrest was created that Tsiranana dissolved the government in May 1972 and appointed General Gabriel Ramanantsoa
Gabriel Ramanantsoa
Gabriel Ramanantsoa was the President and Prime Minister of Madagascar from 1972 to 1975.Ramanantsoa was a member of the Merina ethnic group, and came from a wealthy family. He was a career officer in the French army. After Madagascar became independent, he joined the Madagascar military, rising...
as prime minister. In October 1972, Tsiranana resigned as President and handed power to Ramanantsoa. Though he still had some support within the country, Tsiranana had been severely ill for a couple of years and generally stayed out of politics for the few months before his death.
Tsiranana's son Philippe stood in the Malagasy presidential election, 2006
Malagasy presidential election, 2006
Presidential elections were held in Madagascar on 3 December 2006. President Marc Ravalomanana, in office since he prevailed in a dispute over election results in 2002, ran for re-election...
, placing twelfth with only 0.02% of the vote.