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First Lady of Madagascar

First Lady of Madagascar
since December 16, 2023
ResidenceIavoloha Palace
Inaugural holderJustine Tsiranana
FormationJune 26, 1960
WebsiteFirst Lady of Madagascar

First Lady of Madagascar (French: Première Dame du Madagascar) is the title attributed to the wife of the president of Madagascar.[1][2] The country's current first lady is Mialy Rajoelina, wife of President Andry Rajoelina, who had held the position since December 16, 2023. There has been no first gentlemen of Madagascar to date.

First ladies of Madagascar

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Name Portrait Term Began Term Ended President of Madagascar Notes
Justine Tsiranana June 26, 1960 October 11, 1972 Philibert Tsiranana Born Justine Kalitody, Tsiranana was the inaugural First Lady of Madagascar. She married Philibert Tsiranana on January 29, 1933, at a ceremony in the village of Antsirabe, Mandritsara District.[1]
Marcelle Larguier October 11, 1972 February 5, 1975 Gabriel Ramanantsoa Marcelle Larguier married Ramanantsoa at a Catholic ceremony in Faravohitra on May 26, 1934.[1]
Thérèse Ratsimandrava February 5, 1975 February 11, 1975 Richard Ratsimandrava Born Thérèse Razafindramoizina, she married Colonel Richard Ratsimandrava on September 22, 1956. The couple had five children.[1] Her husband became head of the military government on February 5, 1975. Ratsimandrava was first lady just six days before Colonel Ratsimandrava's assassination on February 11, 1975.[1] Thérèse Ratsimandrava died in August 2001.[1]
Unknown February 12, 1975 June 15, 1975 Gilles Andriamahazo General Gilles Andriamahazo was the transitional president of the military government following Ratsimandrava's assassination. He never appeared with his wife in public during his short tenure.[1]
Céline Ratsiraka June 15, 1975 March 27, 1993 Didier Ratsiraka The country's longest tenured first lady, Ratsiraka was born Céline Velonjara.[1] In 1964, she married a young naval officer, Didier Ratsiraka, in a Catholic ceremony.[1] They have four children - Olga, Annick, Xavier, and Sophie.[1]
Thérèse Zafy March 27, 1993 September 5, 1996 Albert Zafy Born Thérèse Auguste Zafimahova, she was the wife of President Albert Zafy. The couple had three children.[1] Former President Zafy died in October 2017.
Sahondra Rakotondravaly Ratsirahonana September 5, 1996 February 9, 1997 Norbert Ratsirahonana Born Sahondra Rakotondravaly, she was the wife of interim president Norbert Ratsirahonana. Rakotondravaly died in Réunion on April 23, 2014.[3]
Céline Ratsiraka February 9, 1997 May 6, 2002 Didier Ratsiraka Céline Ratsiraka's second tenure as first lady
Lalao Ravalomanana May 6, 2002 March 17, 2009 Marc Ravalomanana Lalao Ravalomanana married her husband, Marc Ravalomanana, in 1974. In April 2013, shortly after returning from exile in South Africa, Lalao Ravalomanana announced her candidacy in the 2013 presidential election.[4] However, Lalao Ravalomanana was barred from running for not having lived in Madagascar for 6 months before the poll[5] In 2015, she was elected Mayor of Antananarivo.
Mialy Rajoelina March 17, 2009 January 25, 2014 Andry Rajoelina Born Mialy Razakandisa, she met Andry Rajoelina in 1994 while completing her senior year at a high school in Antananarivo. The couple dated long-distance for six years while she completed her undergraduate and masters studies in Paris. The couple married in 2000.
Voahangy Rajaonarimampianina January 25, 2014 September 7, 2018 Hery Rajaonarimampianina The couple married at a ceremony held at the Ambohinaorina Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM) in Sabotsy Namehana.[1]
Vacant September 7, 2018 January 19, 2019 Rivo Rakotovao (acting)
Mialy Rajoelina January 19, 2019 September 9, 2023 Andry Rajoelina
Vacant September 9, 2023 December 16, 2023 Christian Ntsay (acting)
Richard Ravalomanana (acting)
Mialy Rajoelina December 16, 2023 Incumbent Andry Rajoelina

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Madagascar First ladies : De Justine à Voahangy, en passant par les deux Thérèse". Madagate.com. 2014-02-14. Archived from the original on 2017-10-15. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  2. ^ "Saint-Valentin : Gros plan sur les premières dames malgaches". Ma-TV. 2014-02-13. Archived from the original on 2018-08-05. Retrieved 2018-08-05.
  3. ^ "Ratsirahonana en deuil : Condoléances du gouvernement". Ma-TV. 2014-04-28. Archived from the original on 2018-08-04. Retrieved 2018-08-04.
  4. ^ Iloniaina, Alain (25 April 2013). "Wife of Madagascar's ousted president makes leadership bid". Reuters. Archived from the original on 15 October 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  5. ^ Polgreen, Lydia (18 August 2013). "Top Presidential Candidates Barred From Election in Madagascar". New York Times. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
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