The Government of Madagascar

Madagascar - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Madagascar, it was the name "Madageiscar" was first used by the 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco POLO, as a corrupted transliteration of Mogadishu, the Somali port with which POLO confused the island. The Government system in this country is the semi-presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

National symbols

Traveller's palm, zebu; national colors: red, green, white.

The flag

The National flag of Madagascar has two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side; by tradition, red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, white for purity.

The National Anthem

Title	"Ry Tanindraza nay malala o" (Oh, Our Beloved Fatherland)
Lyric/music	Pasteur RAHAJASON/Norbert RAHARISOA

note: adopted 1959

More about the government of Madagascar

Constitution
Date of Independence	26 June 1960 (from France)
National holiday	Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Legal system	civil law system based on the old French civil code and customary law in matters of marriage, family, and obligation
International law organization participation	accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
History	Previous 1992; latest passed by referendum 17 November 2010, promulgated 11 December 2010
Amendments	Proposed by the president of the republic in consultation with the cabinet or supported by a least two thirds of both the Senate and National Assembly membership; passage requires at least three-fourths approval of both the Senate and National Assembly and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles, including the form and powers of government, the sovereignty of the state, and the autonomy of Madagascar’s collectivities, cannot be amended
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	no
Citizenship by descent only	the father must be a citizen of Madagascar; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen
Dual citizenship recognized	no
Residency requirement for naturalization	unknown
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President Andry RAJOELINA (since 16 December 2023)
Head of government	Prime Minister Christian NTSAY (since 6 June 2018)
Cabinet	Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
Elections/appointments	president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 16 November 2023 (next to be held in November 2028); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly, appointed by the president
Election results	2023: Andry RAJOELINA reelected president in first round; percent of vote - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 59.0%, Siteny Thierry RANDRIANASOLONIAIKO 14.4%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 12.1%, other 14.5% 2018: Andry RAJOELINA elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Andry RAJOELINA (TGV) 39.2%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 35.4%, other 25.4%; percent of vote in second round - Andry RAJOELINA 55.7%, Marc RAVALOMANANA 44.3%
Legislative branch
Description	Bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate or Antenimierandoholona (18 seats; 12 members indirectly elected by an electoral college of municipal, communal, regional, and provincial leaders and 6 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly or Antenimierampirenena (151 seats; 87 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 64 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections	Senate - last held on 11 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2025) National Assembly - last held on 27 May 2019 (next to be held on 29 May 2024)
Election results	Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; elected seats by party - Irmar 10, Malagasy Miara Miainga 2; composition - men 17, women 1, percentage women 5.6% National Assembly - percent of vote by party/coalition - IRD 55.6%, TIM 10.6%, independent 30.5%, other 3.3%; seats by party/coalition - IRD 84, TIM 16, independent 46, other 5; composition - men 123, women 28, percentage women 18.5%; total Parliament percentage women 10.7%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (consists of 11 members; addresses judicial administration issues only); High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle (consists of 9 members); High Court of Justice (consists of 11 members; addresses cases brought against the president of Madagascar and high officials for high treason, grave violations of the Constitution, or breach of duties incompatible with the exercise of the presidential mandate)
Judge selection and term of office	Supreme Court heads elected by the president and judiciary officials to serve 3-year, single renewable terms; High Constitutional Court members appointed - 3 each by the president, by both legislative bodies, and by the Council of Magistrates; members serve single, 7-year terms; High Court of Justice members include: first president of the Supreme Court; 2 presidents from the Court of Cassation; 2 presidents from the Court of Appeal; 2 deputies from the National Assembly; 2 senators from the Senate; 2 members from the High Council for the Defense of Democracy and the State of law
Subordinate courts	Courts of Appeal; Court of Cassation; Courts of First Instance; military courts; traditional (dina) courts; Trade Court
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Amielle Pelenne NIRINIAVISOA MARCEDA (since 31 October 2019)
Chancery	2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone	[1] (202) 265-5525
FAX	[1] (202) 265-3034
Email address and website	[email protected] https://us-madagascar-embassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Claire PIERANGELO (since 2 May 2022)
Embassy	Lot 207A, Andranoro, Antehiroka, 105 Antananarivo - Madagascar
Mailing address	2040 Antananarivo Place, Washington DC 20521-2040
Telephone	[261] 33-44-320-00
FAX	[261] 33-44-320-35
Email address and website	[email protected] https://mg.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	3 (1 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve (n); Ambohimanga Royal Hill (c); Atsinanana Rainforests (n)