HARARE, October 14. /TASS/ The lower house of Madagascar's parliament has voted to remove President Andry Rajoelina from power as youth protests rage on the island. Shortly after the vote, a military group led by Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who supports the protesters, said it was taking power and dissolving all previous governing bodies.
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa. It covers an area of 587,300 square kilometers (the fourth largest island in the world). A former colony of France, it proclaimed independence in 1960. The capital is Antananarivo. The official languages are Malagasy and French. The total population is 30.3 million people, the majority are Malagasy. The main groups of believers are adherents of traditional local beliefs and Christians. According to the 2010 Constitution, Madagascar is a presidential republic. The UN ranks it among the least developed countries, while the World Bank ranks it among the countries with the lowest per capita income ($510 per year, 2024).
Andry Rajoelina (born in 1974) has held the top post since January 2019. He has no higher education, in his youth he worked as a DJ in the capital's clubs, was involved in organizing musical events and the advertising business. He was nicknamed TGV (from the French "high-speed train") for his assertiveness and energy, which he later used in his political campaigns. In 2007, he was elected Mayor of Antananarivo. In 2009, he led the opposition against President Marc Ravalomanana, who ordered the closure of the TV channel owned by Rajoelina. This media outlet provided a platform for former President Didier Ratsirakato criticize the authorities. When the military sided with Rajoelina, Marc Ravalomanana agreed to resign and left the country.
