Newspapers in Madagascar
According to SOFTWARELEVERAGE.ORG, Madagascar is a country located in Africa. In Madagascar there are six daily newspapers with a combined edition of about 65,000 copies. (1996). The largest are French-speaking Midi-Madagasikara with 25,000 copies.; The Madagascar Tribune, published in French and Malagasy, has about 12,000 copies. The newspapers were heavily controlled by the government before 1990, when freedom of establishment was introduced.
At the same time, private radio and TV were allowed alongside the state-owned Radio-Télévision Malagasy (RTM). RTM broadcasts radio since 1931 and TV since 1968 in French, Malagasy and English. Several private radio stations started in the 1990s. There are 216 radio and 24 TV receivers per 1,000 residents (2000).
Culture
According to ALLUNITCONVERTERS, poetry and oral storytelling have a long tradition in Madagascar, but Malagasy has also long been a written language with a large literary treasure. Music plays an important role in family or urban rituals.
Among the more well-known twentieth-century writers are Jacques Rabemananjara, Jean-Joseph Rabearivelo and Flavien Ranaivo, all of whom have written or translated into French.
Traditional singing and music occur at parties as well as in churches. In recent years, Madagascar has also become internationally renowned for its modern music. The biggest spread is the music style salegy (pronounced “saleg”). Eusèbe Jaojoby is the foremost performer of this music and is often regarded as the country’s most important popular musician. Artists such as Rossy, Ghary, Jean Emilien, Regis Gizavo and Bodo are also famous, as well as in more traditional music Rakoto Frah as well as groups from the Antandroy people like Salala and Vaovy.
The capital of the Merin Kingdom, Ambohimanga, with its graves and sacred sites, still plays an important role in the spiritual lives of many Madagascans, including as a pilgrimage destination. The city is included on the UN agency UNESCO World Heritage List.
2019
November
Rajoelina’s favorite is becoming mayor of the capital
November 27th
In the mayoral election in Antananarivo, Naina Andriatsitohaina, who is President Rajoelina’s party alliance, wins All of us with President Rajoelina’s candidate. Andriatsitohaina is a media magnate, billionaire and former foreign minister. The turnout is 25 percent.
September
The Pope attracts giant public
September 8
Pope Francis visits Madagascar. Hundreds of thousands of people gather on the outskirts of Antananarivo to hear the Catholic head holding a mass. According to the organizers, as many as one million people may have participated. During his visit, the Pope appealed to the Madagascans to protect the island’s unique environment from deforestation. It is 30 years since a pope, the last time John Paul II, last visited the country. Around every fifth of the population is Catholic.
July
Rajoelina retains her ministers
July 19
The government resigns formally. In the new government, President Rajoelina will leave sitting Prime Minister Christian Ntsay in his post. This in turn retains its most important ministers, and the changes in the government are thus small.
May
Talks about island conflict resume
May 29th
Madagascar and France resume talks on the Iles Eparses (Scattered Islands) archipelago off the Madagascan coast. The coral islands are administered by France, but Madaagskar has been claiming it since 1973. The two countries agree to set up a commission that will propose a solution by June 2020. Much indicates that there is oil and natural gas at the archipelago.
Rajoelina’s partial alliance wins the election
May 27th
President Andry Rajoelina’s partial alliance We all with President Rajoelina win a superior victory in the parliamentary elections. The Alliance receives 84 of the 151 mandates at stake. Rajoelina’s main opponent, President Marc Ravalomanana’s Party I Love Madagascar (TIM) gets 16 seats. Five small parties receive a mandate each. The remaining 46 mandates go to independent candidates. The turnout is only 31 percent.
Some 80 parliamentarians are being investigated for bribery
May 17
Madagascar’s anti-corruption authority is launching preliminary investigations against 79 of Parliament’s 151 members. The 79 are suspected of bribery in connection with President Rajaonarimampianina’s attempt to change the electoral laws for the 2018 presidential election. All suspects were loyal to Rajaonarimampianina in the conflict surrounding the bill. Opponents Rajoelina and Ravalomanana considered that the change in law would benefit the incumbent president and accused a number of members of having received the equivalent of EUR 12,500 each in bribes in exchange for voting for the bill. It is the 79 who voted for the proposal that are now being investigated. The legislative amendment was implemented but partially annulled by the Constitutional Court. The investigations begin less than two weeks before the parliamentary elections are to be held on May 27.
April
Referendum on the Constitution
April 21
President Rajoelina announces a referendum until May 27. The Madagascans will then be able to decide whether the Senate should be abolished and whether the regions should be given extended powers.
January
New lost government
January 24th
After taking office as President on January 19, Rajoelina presents his new government. Christian Ntsay remains as prime minister. In addition, 20 ministers and a deputy minister are appointed, which will be a much smaller government than the previous one made up of 30 ministers. Rajoelina says he chose a small government to save money in times of crisis. At the same time, he makes clear demands on the new ministers, their work will be evaluated in six months and in a year there may be talks of change of minister if they have not delivered what Rajoelina wants.
Rajoelina’s rolling victory is established
January 8
The Constitutional Court determines the outcome of the December 19 presidential election. That means Andry Rajoelina wins with almost 56 percent of the vote against just over 44 percent for Marc Ravalamanana, whose political camps had appealed the election result with the reason that serious election fraud had occurred. The Constitutional Court finds these allegations unfounded.
