Malagasy military officer Michael Randrianirina on Friday was sworn in as the president of Madagascar in the African island country's capital Antananarivo.
ANTANANARIVO, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Malagasy military officer Michael Randrianirina on Friday was sworn in as the president of Madagascar in the African island country's capital Antananarivo.
During his inaugural speech at the High Constitutional Court, Randrianirina said that today marks a "historic turning point" for Madagascar, voicing his determination "to break with the past" and "open a new chapter in the nation's life."
According to Randrianirina, his primary mission upon taking office is to "thoroughly reform the country's administrative, socio-economic, and political governance systems."
In the short term, the president intended to address the country's recurring social issues, particularly in the energy, health and education sectors. Prudent fiscal policies are to be implemented, with public expenditures focused on the "most urgent and fundamental needs of the people," he said.
Meanwhile, the leader announced the launch of an inclusive institutional reform process, which includes drafting a new Constitution and revising electoral laws in preparation for future elections and referendums.
He invited the international community to participate in Madagascar's national reconstruction, expressing his expectation for bilateral and multilateral cooperation based on the principles of "constructive, sincere, and fair" dialogue.
Randrianirina also assured international partners and investors that, guided by principles of goodwill and sincerity, his administration is committed to fostering a "more stable, attractive, and secure" business environment.
Randrianirina, born in 1974, was governor of Madagascar's southern Androy region between 2016 and 2018.
Protests erupted in Madagascar in late September, initially triggered by widespread power and water shortages. Some demonstrations turned violent and soon escalated into calls for the president's resignation. The protests took a new turn last Saturday, with an army regiment declaring its support for the protesters.
Randrianirina announced on Tuesday that state power in Madagascar was taken over by a military council comprising members of the army, gendarmerie and national police, noting that the decision followed "the observation of non-compliance with the Constitution and the flouting of human rights."
On the same day, the National Assembly of Madagascar, the lower house of the parliament, voted to impeach President Andry Rajoelina in an extraordinary session, despite the Presidency's earlier announcement of an assembly dissolution. ■
