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Since 1896, Madagascar had been run by France. In 1957, the first Malagasy Government was instituted with the outline law. On September 28th 1958, most of the population agreed to become part of the French Community and on October 14th of the same year, all the regional councillors proclaimed the Malagasy Republic during an extraordinary congress. This date was chosen as the national holiday.
The 1896 annexion law was abolished on October 15th 1958 and the colonial period came to its end. The first Constitution of the Malagasy Republic was adopted on April 29th 1959.
On May 1st 1959, Philibert Tsiranana, a teacher who is a graduate of the "Ecole Normale de Montpellier" was elected President of the Republic. During his swearing-ceremony in front of the Parliament and the population at Mahamasina, he undertook solemnly to respect the Constitution.
On June 26th 1960, an agreement between the President of the Malagasy Republic and the French Government gave the independence to Madagascar.
During the 2nd Republic, towards the end of the 2nd presidential term of office, censure was lifted and democratic pluralism instituted in recognition of multiparty system. Some political parties left the National Front for the Defense of the Revolution, protested against the reelection of the retiring president and claimed the setting up of the transitional Government in charge of preparing the advent of the 3rd Republic preceded by a Constitutional change and a review of the electoral code.
A transitional government was instituted by the Panorama Convention on October 31st 1991. Transition institutions were established. They were made up of:
President Didier RATSIRAKA stayed on as head of the presidency. Professor Albert ZAFY was appointed head of the State High Authority whereas the government was led by Prime Minister Guy Willy RAZANAMASY. The transition government were in charge of organizing forums, preparing an early presidential election as well as the advent of the 3rd Republic. During the transitional period, the Economic and Social Recovery Committee was created to give recommendation to the government in place of the National Assembly which was dissolved.
A new Constitution resulting from regional and national forums was adopted on September 1992 which gave birth to the 3rd Republic with a parliamentary system and a once renewable five-year mandate for the president.
Seven candidates standed for election on November 1992. Albert ZAFY won the 2nd round on March 1993. On September 1995, President Albert ZAFY organized a Constitutional amendement referendum to come back to a presidential system.
Following the motion of censure passed against Prime Minister Emmanuel RAKOTOVAHINY, President Albert ZAFY appointed Norbert Lala RATSIRAHONANA Prime Minister. After the motion of "empêchement" voted against President ZAFY Albert, Prime Minister Norbert Lala RATSIRAHONANA was appointed Head of the State and the Government by the High Constitutional Court. He was then in charge of preparing an early presidential election.
The former President, Didier RATSIRAKA, was re-elected on January 31st 1997.
On September 1998, he organized a Constitutional amendement instituting the Autonomous Provinces and replacing the term «power» by «function» of the State.
The result of the 2001 presidential election for which six candidates standed was controversial. On January 25th 2002, the Constitutional High Court whose seat was provisionally transferred at the Hôtel Ermitage located at Mantasoa, ordered the 2nd round to be carried out since any of the two candidates did not obtain over 50% of the recorded votes.
A popular movement of national scope, in the form of a demonstration followed by a strike called for a confrontation of the election statement of offence for the 16,000 polling stations. On the one hand, Didier RATSIRAKA's partisans opposed the confrontation; on the other hand the committee supporting Marc RAVALOMANANA organized, as a mark of protest, demonstrations against the decision pronounced by the CHC of Mantasoa.
On February 22nd 2002 took place the investiture of Marc RAVALOMANANA as a President of the Republic. It was at that time discribed as an extra-constitutional auto-proclamation by the international community.
The two candidates attempted to resolve the crisis. Then thanks to President ABDOULAYE WADE of Senegal and under the aegis of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), they met in Dakar on April 2002 and signed the «DAKAR I» agreement. According to the terms of the agreement, the organisation of the vote counting was recommended and if any of the two candidates would not obtain over 50% of the recorded votes, a 2nd round should be carried out.
On April 16th 2002, the Administrative Courts annulled the appointment of the Constitutional High Court members who had pronounced the decision of Mantasoa. This decision follows upon an appeal lodged by one of the candidates who had applied for his appointment in this high courts. The annulment was based on the non-compliance with the appointment procedures of the Constitutional High Court members. Through the same decision, the Administrative Courts also rehabilitated the former CHC members.
After having counted the votes once again, the Constitutional Court declared Marc RAVALOMANANA victorious at the end of the 1st round with 51.46% of the recorded votes against 35.90% for Didier RATSIRAKA.
On May 6th 2002 took place the second investiture - this time official - of Marc RAVALOMANANA as President of the Republic.
In reaction to this, the outgoing president and his partisans ordered the transformation of the Autonomous Provinces into federated States whereas the Malagasy Constitution forbids any attempts which aim at calling national unity into question. Barricades and destruction of bridges and public property took place everywhere in the Island.
On June 2002, a second meeting - the DAKAR II agreement - took place in Senegal under the aegis of the Organisation of African Unity. It aimed at finding common ground to the crisis.
After recognition of the new President's authority by Switzerland, the Federal Republic of Germany, the United-States of America et later on by France, Marc RAVALOMANANA made every effort to restore normality throughout the country and to ensure rapid economic recovery. In each Province, the imminent advance of the liberation army made up of the regular army and the reservists compelled the outgoing president and his close partisans to leave the country in a hurry. The smashing of the uneconomical roadblock didn't came up against any major resistance, excepted in the North of the Island. The Resistance led by Colonel Coutity ended in failure. The restoration of the provision of oil supply allowed to return to normal, ending a time of widespread shortage situation.
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