Long-form name: Democratic Republic of Madagascar

Type: real authority in hands of the president, although Supreme Revolutionary Council is theoretically ultimate executive authority

Capital: Antananarivo

Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (plural--NA, singular--faritanin); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Independence: 26 June 1960 (from France; formerly Malagasy Republic)

Constitution: 21 December 1975

Legal system: based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Branches: executive--a 19-member Supreme Revolutionary Council (made up of military and political leaders); assisted by cabinet called Council of Ministers; unicameral legislative--Popular National Assembly; Military Committee for Development; regular courts are patterned after French system, and a High Council of Institutions reviews all legislation to determine its constitutional validity

Leaders: @m5Chief of State--President Adm. Didier RATSIRAKA (since 15 June 1975); @m5Head of Government--Prime Minister Lt. Col. Victor RAMAHATRA (since 12 February 1988)

Suffrage: universal over age 18

Elections: referendum held in December 1975 gave overwhelming approval to government and new Constitution; elections for Popular National Assembly held in June 1977 and in August 1983; only one political group allowed to take part in the election, the National Front for the Defense of the Revolution, which presented a single list of candidates; a presidential election in November 1982 returned President Ratsiraka with an 80% majority
the challenger, Monja Jaona, received 20% and was later arrested after leading demonstrations to protest election fraud

Political parties and leaders: seven parties are now allowed limited political activity under the national front and are represented on the Supreme Revolutionary Council: Advance Guard of the Malagasy Revolution (AREMA), Didier Ratsiraka; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence (AKFM), Pastor Richard Andriamanjato; Movement for National Unity (VONJY), Dr. Marojama Razanabahiny; Malagasy Christian Demcratic Union (UDECMA), Norbert Andriamorasata; Militants for the Establishment of a Proletarian Regime (MFM), Manandafy Rakotonirina; National Movement for the Independence of Madagascar (MONIMA), Monja Jaona; Socialist Organization Monima (VSM), Tsihozony Maharanga, an offshoot of MONIMA

Voting strength: 4.8 million registered voters (1982); in 1977 local election, President Ratsiraka's AREMA captured about 89.5% of the 73,000 available positions on 11,400 local executive committees; AKFM won about 7.3% of the seats, MONIMA 1.7%, and VONJY 1.4%; UDECMA won only about 45 seats; in the 1983 legislative election AREMA won 117 out of the 137 seats in the Popular National Assembly

Communists: Communist party of virtually no importance; small and vocal group of Communists has gained strong position in leadership of AKFM, the rank and file of which is non-Communist

Member of: AfDB, CCC, EAMA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IRC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OCAM, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Leon M. RAJAOBELINA; Chancery at 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 265-5525 or 5526; there is a Malagasy Consulate General in New York; US--Ambassador Patricia Gates LYNCH; Embassy at 14 and 16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo (mailing address is B. P. 620, Antananarivo); telephone 212-57, 209-56, 200-89, 207-18

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

NOTE: The information regarding Madagascar on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Madagascar Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Madagascar Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.