Gabriel Ramanantsoa
Gabriel Ramanantsoa (13 April 1906 Antananarivo – 9 May 1979 Paris) was the President and Prime Minister of Madagascar from 1972 to 1975.
Gabriel Ramanantsoa | |
|---|---|
Gabriel Ramanantsoa in 1961. | |
| 2nd President of Madagascar | |
| In office 11 October 1972 – 5 February 1975 | |
| Prime Minister | Himself |
| Preceded by | Philibert Tsiranana |
| Succeeded by | Richard Ratsimandrava |
| 8th Prime Minister of Madagascar | |
| In office 18 May 1972 – 5 February 1975 | |
| President | Philibert Tsiranana (May–October 1972) Himself (October 1972-1975) |
| Preceded by | Office Reestablished |
| Succeeded by | Office Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 April 1906[citation needed] Antananarivo, Madagascar |
| Died | 9 May 1979 (aged 73) Paris, France |
| Spouse | Marcelle Larguier (m. 1934–1979; his death)[1] |
Ramanantsoa was a member of the Merina ethnic group, and came from a wealthy family. He graduated from Saint-Cyr in 1931.[2] He was a career officer in the French army. After Madagascar became independent, he joined the Madagascar military, rising to the rank of Major General. In May 1972, amidst massive political protests, he became prime minister of the country with tacit French backing, and President Philibert Tsiranana vested him with full executive powers.[3] Tsiranana resigned altogether on October 11, 1972 following a referendum that approved a five-year transition period under military leadership, and Ramanantsoa became president as well. He tried to start political reconciliation. His popularity faded due to rumors of corruption involving him and his wife, and government was nearly overthrown in December 1974 by an anti-Merina coup led by Bréchard Rajaonarison.[4] He lost the backing of Richard Ratsimandrava and Didier Ratsiraka and on February 5, 1975 he was forced to resign amidst ethnic and social class tensions.
His nephew, Bernard Ramanantsoa, served as dean of the French business school HEC Paris from 1996 to 2015.
References
- ^ "Madagascar First ladies : De Justine à Voahangy, en passant par les deux Thérèse". Madagate.com. 2014-02-14. from the original on 2017-10-15. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
- ^ "Madagascar's President Yields Power to General". The New York Times. 1972-05-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
- ^ Allen, Philip M.; Covell, Maureen (2005). Historical Dictionary of Madagascar. Scarecrow Press. p. 242. ISBN 978-0-8108-4636-4.
- ^ Allen, Philip M. (2019-04-02). Madagascar: Conflicts Of Authority In The Great Island. Routledge. p. 85. ISBN 978-0-429-71799-4.