News
Programmes
Video
Blogs
Opinion
In Depth
Business
Human Rights
Sport
Weather
Watch Live
Africa
Americas
Asia-Pacific
Central & South Asia
Europe
Middle East
Inside Story
Witness
Listening Post
People & Power
101 East
The Stream
More
Focus
Features
In Pictures
Interactive
Spotlight
Briefings
Your Views
Counting the Cost
News
This month on Al Jazeera
Africa
Profile: Andry Rajoelina
Former DJ has been a thorn in the side of the president for more than 12 months.
Last Modified:
18 Mar 2009 22:16
Rajoelina is nicknamed TGV, after the French high speed train [AFP]
Andry Rajoelina, a successful businessman and one-time DJ, has made it his political mission to take on Marc Ravalomanana, Madagascar's president, who he accuses of behaving like a dictator.
At just 34 years old, he is too young to stand for the presidency as the law requires candidates to be 40. But he has declared himself head of his own rival government as he tries to push Ravalomanana from power.
He is regarded by some as a maverick and his quick-fire personality has seen him nicknamed TGV, after the French high speed train.
The moniker stuck and Rajoelina turned the initials into his movement's name: Tanora Gasy Vonona, or Young Dynamic Madagascan.
In December 2007, he entered politics, running as a candidate in municipal elections that saw him become mayor of the capital, Antananarivo, after trouncing Ravalomanana's party with 63 per cent of the vote.
Over the next 12 months, Rajoelina's relations with the government worsened leading them to shut down his television network after it broadcast an interview with Didier Ratsiraka, a former president.
Ratsiraka, who ruled Madagascar for 25 years, lives in exile in France after a drawn-out and violent political tussle with Ravalomanana over the result of presidential elections in 2001.
Rajoelina accused the government of stifling free speech and has since become increasingly critical of Ravalomanana.
He has repeatedly condemned what he says are shrinking freedoms on the Indian Ocean island and also fiercely criticised a massive project to lease vast swathes of farmland to South Korean industrial giant Daewoo.
Source:
Al Jazeera and agencies
Topics in this article
People
Marc Ravalomanana
Andry Rajoelina
Featured on Al Jazeera
Revised Guantanamo force-feed policy exposed
Al Jazeera's exclusive publishing of a key Guantanamo prison military document lays bare the brutality of force-feeding.
Report: Canada could see indigenous uprising
Former military official says poverty and anger in indigenous communities mean conditions for an "insurgency" are ripe.
China Rising
A four-part series that gives a rare insight into the country on the move, with history in tow.
Al-Nakba
Series on the Palestinian 'catastrophe' of 1948 that led to dispossession and conflict that still endures.
Top News Accordion
Top News
Syrian offensive on Qusayr deepens
Salafist group clashes with police in Tunisia
Imran Khan's party 'wins' Karachi revote
Deadly car bombs rock Iraq's Basra
Yahoo 'to buy Tumblr in $1.1bn deal'
Africa
Africa
Nigerian army blockades Boko Haram base
Profile: Boko Haram
Salafist group clashes with police in Tunisia
Deaths reported in South Sudan cattle raids
S Africa stunned by fatal circumcisions
What's Hot
What's Hot
Viewed
Emailed
7 Days
Syrian offensive on Qusayr deepens
Dubai workers hold rare strike for more wages
Zimbabwe cracks down on the oldest profession
Al-Nakba
China Rising
Nigerian army blockades Boko Haram base
China asks N Korea to release fishing boat
License to kill
Yahoo 'to buy Tumblr in $1.1bn deal'
Imran Khan's party 'wins' Karachi revote
{Title}
Didier Drogba and the Ivorian civil war
Report: Canada could see indigenous uprising
The last of the Semites
South Sudan town 'trashed by army'
Al-Nakba
Regional language campaigners denounce France
Video suggests higher Bangladesh protest toll
The logic of democracy
Japan mayor says wartime sex slaves necessary
The Secret of the Seven Sisters
Report: Canada could see indigenous uprising
Al-Nakba
Japan mayor says wartime sex slaves necessary
China Rising
Weakening Cyclone Mahasen heads to Bangladesh
Revised Guantanamo force-feed policy exposed
The last of the Semites
Video suggests higher Bangladesh protest toll
The world's richest city
North Korea launches short-range missiles
{Title}
Featured
China Rising
A four-part series that gives a rare insight into the country on the move, with history in tow.
Al-Nakba
Series on the Palestinian 'catastrophe' of 1948 that led to dispossession and conflict that still endures.
Syria: The War Within
Two years since the start of the uprising, rebels and Assad's forces remain locked in conflict.
China angles for Arctic power
China aims to expand its influence in the resource rich area.
Crisis in Bangladesh
Extensive coverage of war crimes tribunals and controversial calls for blasphemy laws.
Opinion
When the music dies: Azerbaijan one year after Eurovision
Rebecca Vincent
Destroying the lair of the budget balancing cretins
Dean Baker
Not buying the Bush library lies
Paul Rosenberg
Medical care in the line of fire
Unni Karunakara
What will save Portugal?
Michael Marder
Who should not be making the abortion law?
Sophia Collins
Why sanctions on Iran are not working
Trita Parsi
The logic of democracy
Creston Davis
Guatemala: Rios Montt genocide trial ends with historic verdict
Mike Allison
The US and enemy prisoners post 9/11
Arjun Sethi
join our mailing list
Email Address
Close
News
Africa
Americas
Asia-Pacific
Central/S.Asia
Europe
Middle East
Sport
In Depth
Opinion
Features
Spotlight
Briefings
Blogs
Your Views
Programmes
The Stream
Witness
Inside Story
Listening Post
People & Power
Fault Lines
Fabulous Picture Show
Frost Over The World
101 East
One on One
Counting The Cost
Talk to Al Jazeera
Empire
The Cafe
Watch
Live
On Demand
Podcasts
Mobile
Broadcast Schedule
Hotel/Partners
More
About Us
Search
Weather
Creative Commons
Work for us
Transparency Unit
Community Rules
Terms & Conditions