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Madagascar GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Government: Constitution approved August 19,
1992 by
national referendum. Constitution establishes separation
of
powers among executive, legislative, and judicial
branches;
multiparty political system; and protection of human
rights and
freedom of speech. President elected by universal suffrage
for
five-year period with two-term limit. Prime minister
nominated by
bicameral parliament composed of Senate and National
Assembly,
and approved by president. Supreme Court has eleven
members and
forms apex of other judicial bodies. Local government
consists of
twenty-eight regions with decentralized powers in economic
field.
Politics: In first legislative elections of
Third
Republic in 1993 more than 120 political parties entered
4,000
candidates for 138 seats. Proportional representation list
system
encourages candidacies. Traditional village council
(fokonolona) system supplements modern political
system.
Foreign Relations: Good relations with many
countries,
particularly France and the West; in post-Cold War era
seeking
diversified ties with East and West, including Arab
countries and
Far East.
Data as of August 1994
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