Topic: Andry Rajoelina

Andry Nirina Rajoelina (born May 30, 1974) is a Malagasy politician and television and radio station owner. Rajoelina dissolved Madagascar's parliament, changed the high court judges and swore himself in as transitional head of state of Madagascar on March 21, 2009, having been installed in that position by the military at the end of a political crisis. Rajoelina was Mayor of Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, from December 2007 to February 2009. While serving as Mayor, he strongly opposed President Marc Ravalomanana, ultimately leading protests that, together with military intervention, resulted in Ravalomanana's resignation. He was one of the youngest current heads of state in the world and the youngest head of state in Africa. His position has been challenged in a military coup attempt on 17-18 November 2010.

Rajoelina personal fortune derives from the wealth of his wife's family. The son of a colonel and a high school drop-out, by age 20 Rajoelina was working as a disc jockey in various clubs and bars around Antananarivo. He soon gained prominence after establishing his own radio station, Viva Radio, and a successful advertising company. He earned the nickname "TGV" after the French high-speed train, which he later continued to use as the name of his political movement.

As the head of the movement TGV - Tanora malaGasy Vonona (Determined Malagasy Youth), Rajoelina decided to run for mayor of Antananarivo, the national capital. He faced Hery Rafalimanana, presidential candidate and previous mayor of the city. He did so under the status of President of Special Delegation (PDS), appointed directly by President Marc Ravalomanana. Rajoelina was elected mayor on 12 December 2007 with 63.3% of the vote. He inherited a city heavily indebted.