Pascal Rakotomavo

Pascal Joseph Rakotomavo (born April 1 1934 [http://www.gov-antananarivo.mg/biographie.shtm Biographical page at Antananarivo Province website] fr.] ) is a former Malagasy politician. He was the Prime Minister of Madagascar from 21 February 1997Guy Arnold, [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9114397/Madagascar Madagascar: Year in Review 1997] , Britannica.com.] to 23 July 1998. [Christopher Saunders, [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9124527/MADAGASCAR Madagascar: Year in Review 1998] , Britannica.com.]

He was Minister of Finance and the Economy from 1982 to 1989 and special advisor to President Didier Ratsiraka from 1989 to 1993. His appointment as Prime Minister in February 1997, following Ratsiraka's return to the presidency, was considered surprising. Rakotomavo served as Governor of Antananarivo Province from June 2001 to 2002. He was also Ratsiraka's campaign director in the December 2001 presidential election, [ [http://www.essor.gov.ml/cgi-bin/view_article.pl?id=1116 "L'ARMÉE EN PREMIÈRE LIGNE"] , "L'Essor" (Mali), March 1, 2002 fr.] ["Madagascar: Ratsiraka campaign manager denounces "irregularities" in capital", Malagasy National Radio, Antananarivo, December 17, 2001.] but in the political crisis that followed between Ratsiraka and opposition candidate Marc Ravalomanana, as governor he adopted what has been described as a neutral position. [ [http://www.madagascar-tribune.com/index.php?JOURNAL=651&ART=11392 "Pascal Rakotomavo résiste au DG de ARO"] , "Madagascar Tribune", July 18, 2005 fr.] On February 28 2002, Ratsiraka appointed General Léon-Claude Raveloarison as military governor of Antananarivo Province under martial law. Rakotomavo was the only one of the six provincial governors to not sign a declaration that Toamasina, Ratsiraka's stronghold during the 2002 political crisis, was the nation's provisional capital. [ [http://www.afrique-express.com/archive/AUSTRALE/madagascar/madagascarpol/246ractionsratsiraka.htm "Les réactions des partisans du président Ratsiraka"] , "Afrique Express", N° 246, March 14, 2002 fr.] After Ravalomanana prevailed in the dispute, Rakotomavo, unlike the governors of the other provinces, was not prosecuted. [ [http://www.madagascar-tribune.com/index.php?JOURNAL=507&ART=8341 "En lambeau !"] , "Madagascar Tribune", January 24, 2005 fr.]

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