List of presidents of Madagascar
| President of Madagascar | |
|---|---|
| Filohan'i Madagasikara (Malagasy) Président de Madagascar (French) | |
Presidential Standard | |
since 17 October 2025 | |
| Style | President His Excellency |
| Status | Head of state Commander-in-chief |
| Residence | Iavoloha Palace Ambohitsorohitra Palace |
| Seat | Antananarivo |
| Inaugural holder | Philibert Tsiranana |
| Formation | 1 May 1959 |
| Website | Presidence |
| Madagascar portal |
This is a list of presidents of Madagascar, since the establishment of the office of President in 1959, during the Malagasy Republic. The president is the head of state and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The position has been held by Michael Randrianirina as President of the Council of the Presidency for the Re-Foundation of the Republic of Madagascar since 17 October 2025.
Succession
In case of a vacancy, the president of the Senate will act as a temporary successor of the president.[1] After the 2025 military coup, Colonel Michael Randrianirina was appointed as president.[2]
List of officeholders
- Political parties
Social Democratic Party (PSD)
Malagasy Revolutionary Party (AREMA)
National Union for Democracy and Development (UNDD)
I Love Madagascar (TIM)
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 | ||
| Council of the Presidency for the Re-Foundation of the Republic of Madagascar | |||||||||
| — | Michael Randrianirina (born 1974)[j] |
— | 17 October 2025 | Incumbent | 157 days | Military | Zafisambo Rajaonarivelo Rajaonarison | ||
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 |
Incoming election
A presidential election in Madagascar is scheduled for September 2027, within two years of the 2025 coup d'état. Until then, Madagascar will be governed by a transitional government led by President Michael Randrianirina.[3] The most recent Malagasy presidential election was held in 2023, and Andry Rajoelina was re-elected.[4][5][6]
See also
- Politics of Madagascar
- List of Imerina monarchs
- List of colonial governors of Madagascar
- Prime Minister of Madagascar
- Vice President of Madagascar
- First Lady of Madagascar
Notes
- ^ Stepped down amidst massive political protests, and handed over power to the military (after the referendum on military rule).
- ^ a b Styled as Head of State.
- ^ Styled as Chairman of the National Military Leadership Committee.
- ^ Styled as Chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Council.
- ^ Styled as Chairman of the Supreme Revolutionary Council until 4 January 1976.
- ^ Based in Toamasina.
- ^ Based in Antananarivo.
- ^ Served as acting president as Head of the Military Directorate.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Serving as President of the Council of the Presidency for the Re-Foundation of the Republic of Madagascar since 17 October 2025.
References
- ^ "Le Sénat des trois Républiques Malgaches" Archived 2007-06-21 at the Wayback Machine, Senate website (in French).
- ^ "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.
- ^ Agency, Ecofin. "Madagascar Sets September 2027 for Presidential Election". Ecofin Agency. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ^ "Andry Rajoelina: Madagascar president re-elected in contested poll". BBC News. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ "Madagascar court orders one-week postponement of presidential election". Reuters. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Madagascar president resigns ahead of polls in November". Reuters. 10 September 2023. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.