Eugène Régis Mangalaza (born 13 July 1950[1]) 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.
Eugène Mangalaza | |
|---|---|
| 22nd Prime Minister of Madagascar | |
| In office 10 October 2009 – 18 December 2009 | |
| President | Andry Rajoelina |
| Preceded by | Monja Roindefo |
| Succeeded by | Cécile Manorohanta (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 July 1950 Ambodivoanio, Madagascar |
| Political party | Independent |
Career
editMangalaza 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[1] and taught philosophy and anthropology there.[2]
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.[3] At the time, Mangalaza was viewed as a politically obscure figure, and his selection was considered surprising.[2]
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.[4] Mangalaza arrived in Madagascar from Paris on 10 October,[5] and Rajoelina, ignoring Roindefo's objections, appointed Mangalaza as Prime Minister late on the same day.[6]
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.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "Mangalaza Eugène Régis", Madagascar: Les Hommes de Pouvoir N°7, Africa Intelligence, 13 November 2002 (in French).
- ^ a b "Le processus est de nouveau sur les rails; Andry Rajoelina, président, Emmanuel Rakotovahiny, vice président et Mangalaza Eugène, Premier ministre de la Transition", Madagascar Tribune, 7 October 2009 (in French).
- ^ Gregoire Pourtier, "Madagascar's political future still uncertain after deal", AFP, 7 October 2009.
- ^ "Madagascar PM throws up new hurdle to crisis deal", AFP, 10 October 2009.
- ^ "Madagascar leader fires PM", AFP, 11 October 2009.
- ^ "Madagascar: un Premier ministre de consensus nommé par décret" Archived 2009-10-15 at the Wayback Machine, AFP (Romandie.com), 11 October 2009 (in French).
- ^ "October 2009".