In Dec. 2013, Madagascar held its presidential and parliamentary elections. The presidential elections were a run-off between the top two candidates of an earlier round, Jean Louis Robinson and Hery Rajaonarimampianina. Rajaonarimampianina won the runoff, receiving 54% of the vote.

Rajaonarimampianina took office on Jan. 25, 2014. He previously served as Minister of Finance. He has been the CEO of Air Madagascar since 2011. In April 2014, President Rajaonarimampianina named Roger Kolo prime minister. However, less than a year later, Kolo and his cabinet resigned over criticism of its poor handling of frequent power outages. In Jan. 2015, Rajaonarimampianina appointed air commodore Jean Ravelonarivo prime minister.

On May 26, 2015, Madagascars parliament voted, by a 121-4 vote, to remove President Rajaonarimampianina from office because of alleged constitutional violations and general incompetence. Next, the countrys constitutional court would decide if parliaments decision to dismiss Rajaonarimampianina could be enacted legally.

See also Encyclopedia: Madagascar

U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Madagascar

National Institute of Statistics (In French Only) http://www.cite.mg/instat/index.htm .