Richard Ravalomanana

Richard Ravalomanana (born 14 December 1959)^[1] is a Malagasy politician and former military officer who has served as president of the Senate of Madagascar since 2023. He briefly served as acting president of Madagascar in 2023 during the reelection of Andry Rajoelina. Some media outlets have said that he is a collaborator of Rajoelina.^[2]

After many years of military experience, he was appointed Commander of the Gendarmerie in 2012.^[1] he has served as Special Advisor to President Andry Rajoelina for National Security Affairs from 2022 to 2023. Immediately after Razafimahefa was unanimously removed from his position as Senate President by a special Senate session on 12 October 2023, elections were held for Senate President.^[3] In the election for Senate President, Ravalomanana was elected as Senate President with 15 votes in favor and 3 abstentions.^[4]

On 27 October 2023, the Constitutional Court ruled that presidential powers must be exercised by the President of the Senate, and Ravalomanana assumed the office of interim president.^[5]