List of presidents of Madagascar

President of Madagascar
Filohan'i Madagasikara (Malagasy)
Président de Madagascar (French)
Presidential Standard
since 14 October 2025
StylePresident
His Excellency
StatusHead of state
ResidenceIavoloha Palace
Ambohitsorohitra Palace
SeatAntananarivo
Term lengthFive years,
renewable once
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Madagascar (2010)
Inaugural holderPhilibert Tsiranana
Formation1 May 1959 (1959-05-01)
WebsitePresidence

This is a list of presidents of Madagascar, since the establishment of the office of President in 1959, during the Malagasy Republic.

Term limits

As of 2025, there is a two-term limit for the president in the Constitution of Madagascar. The term limit has not been met by any president yet.[1]

Succession

In case of a vacancy, the president of the Senate will act as a temporary successor of the president.[2] After the 2025 military coup, Colonel Michael Randrianirina was appointed as interim president.[3]

List of officeholders

Political parties
  National Union for Democracy and Development (UNDD)
  Hery Vaovao ho an'i Madagasikara (HVM)
Other factions
Status
  Denotes Acting President
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Elected Term of office Political party Prime minister(s)
Took office Left office Time in office
Malagasy Republic (within the French Community)
Philibert Tsiranana
(1912–1978)
1 May 1959 26 June 1960 1 year, 56 days PSD Position abolished
Malagasy Republic (independent country)
1 Philibert Tsiranana
(1912–1978)
1965
1972
26 June 1960 11 October 1972
(Resigned)[a]
12 years, 107 days PSD Ramanantsoa
2 Gabriel Ramanantsoa
(1906–1979)[b]
1972
(referendum)
11 October 1972 5 February 1975
(Resigned)
2 years, 117 days Military Himself
Richard Ratsimandrava
(1931–1975)[b]
5 February 1975 11 February 1975
(Assassinated)
6 days Military Position abolished
Gilles Andriamahazo
(1919–1989)[c]
12 February 1975 15 June 1975 123 days Military
Didier Ratsiraka
(1936–2021)[d]
15 June 1975 30 December 1975 198 days Military
Democratic Republic of Madagascar
3 Didier Ratsiraka
(1936–2021)[e]
1982
1989
30 December 1975 12 January 1992 16 years, 13 days Military /
AREMA
Rakotomalala
Rakotoniaina
Rakotoarijaona
Ramahatra
Razanamasy
Third Republic of Madagascar
(3) Didier Ratsiraka
(1936–2021)
12 January 1992 27 March 1993 1 year, 74 days AREMA Razanamasy
4 Albert Zafy
(1927–2017)
1992–93 27 March 1993 5 September 1996
(Resigned)
3 years, 162 days UNDD Razanamasy
Ravony
Rakotovahiny
Ratsirahonana
Norbert Ratsirahonana
(born 1938)
5 September 1996 9 February 1997 157 days AVI Himself
5 Didier Ratsiraka
(1936–2021)
1996 9 February 1997 (25 February 2002)[f]
5 July 2002
5 years, 146 days AREMA Ratsirahonana
Rakotomavo
Andrianarivo
Rasolondraibe
6 Marc Ravalomanana
(born 1949)
2001
2006
(22 February 2002)[g]
5 July 2002
17 March 2009
(Deposed)
6 years, 255 days TIM Sylla
Rabemananjara
Hyppolite Ramaroson
(born 1951)[h]
17 March 2009 Several hours Military Position vacant
High Transitional Authority
Andry Rajoelina
(born 1974)
(7 February 2009)
17 March 2009
25 January 2014 4 years, 314 days TGV Roindefo
Mangalaza
Manorohanta
Vital
Beriziky
Fourth Republic of Madagascar
7 Hery Rajaonarimampianina
(born 1958)
2013 25 January 2014 7 September 2018 4 years, 225 days HVM Beriziky
Kolo
Ranelonarivo
Solonandrasana
Ntsay
Rivo Rakotovao
(born 1960)
7 September 2018 19 January 2019 134 days HVM Ntsay
8 Andry Rajoelina
(born 1974)
2018 19 January 2019 9 September 2023 4 years, 233 days TGV Ntsay
Christian Ntsay
(born 1961)
9 September 2023 27 October 2023 48 days Independent Himself
Richard Ravalomanana
(born 1959)
27 October 2023 16 December 2023 50 days TGV Ntsay
(8) Andry Rajoelina
(born 1974)
2023 16 December 2023 14 October 2025[i] 1 year, 302 days TGV Ntsay
Zafisambo
9 Michael Randrianirina
(born 1974)[j][k]
14 October 2025 Incumbent 71 days Military Zafisambo
Rajaonarivelo

Timeline

Term of office in years

This is a list of each president (excluding acting presidents) in order of term length.

Of the 7 people that has served as president, only two, Didier Ratsiraka and Andry Rajoelina, served in non consecutive periods.

Rank President Political party Longest continuous term Total time in office Periods
1 Didier Ratsiraka Military/AREMA 17 years, 285 days 23 years, 66 days 2
2 Philibert Tsiranana PSD 13 years, 163 days 13 years, 163 days 1
3 Andry Rajoelina TGV 4 years, 314 days 11 years, 119 days 3
4 Marc Ravalomanana TIM 6 years, 255 days 6 years, 255 days 1
5 Hery Rajaonarimampianina HVM 4 years, 225 days 4 years, 225 days 1
6 Albert Zafy UNDD 3 years, 162 days 3 years, 162 days 1
7 Gabriel Ramanantsoa Military 2 years, 117 days 2 years, 117 days 1

Latest election

CandidatePartyVotes%
Andry RajoelinaYoung Malagasies Determined2,858,94758.96
Siteny RandrianasoloniaikoFitambolagnela IAD–PSDRPSD Vaovao–ABA697,69114.39
Marc RavalomananaTiako i Madagasikara586,28212.09
Hery RajaonarimampianinaNew Force for Madagascar251,1445.18
Hajo AndrianainariveloMalagasy Miara-Miainga91,8321.89
Roland RatsirakaMalagasy Tonga Saina76,8581.59
Tahina RazafinjoelinaFiraisankinan'ny Tia Tanindrazana76,5531.58
Jean Brunelle RazafintsiandraofaAntoko Politika Madio63,4741.31
Sendrison Daniela RaderanirinaFandrosoa Faritsy iaby ho an'i Madagasikara38,9660.80
Lalaina Harilanto RatsirahonananaAntoko Fihavanantsika32,6080.67
Andry Tsiverizo Raobelina AndriamalalaAnjomara sy Rivo-baovao30,1980.62
Auguste Richard ParainaTsara Tahafina29,8740.62
Jean-Jacques Jedidia RatsietisonFahefa mividy no ilain'ny Malagasy14,4680.30
Total4,848,895100.00
Valid votes4,848,89594.72
Invalid/blank votes270,1235.28
Total votes5,119,018100.00
Registered voters/turnout11,043,83646.35
Source: HCC

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Stepped down amidst massive political protests, and handed over power to the military (after the referendum on military rule).
  2. ^ a b Styled as Head of State.
  3. ^ Styled as Chairman of the National Military Leadership Committee.
  4. ^ Styled as Chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Council.
  5. ^ Styled as Chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Council until 4 January 1976.
  6. ^ Based in Toamasina.
  7. ^ Based in Antananarivo.
  8. ^ Served as acting president as Head of the Military Directorate.
  9. ^ Fled the country amidst the 2025 Malagasy protests and the 2025 Malagasy coup d'état. Impeached by the National Assembly after a failed dissolution attempt.
  10. ^ Served as interim president from 14–17 October 2025.
  11. ^ Serving as Chairman of the Council of the Presidency for the Re-Foundation of the Republic of Madagascar since 14 October 2025.

References

  1. ^ Cook, Candace; Siegle, Joseph. "Circumvention of Term Limits Weakens Governance in Africa". Africa Center for Strategic Studies.
  2. ^ "Le Sénat des trois Républiques Malgaches" Archived 2007-06-21 at the Wayback Machine, Senate website (in French).
  3. ^ "Décision n°10-HCC/D3 du 14 octobre 2025 concernant une requête aux fins de résolution sur une sortie de crise politique" (in French). 14 October 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.