9 million 90% nonsalaried family workers engaged in subsistence
agriculture; 175,000 wage earners
by occupation:
agriculture 26%, domestic service 17%, industry 15%, commerce 14%,
construction 11%, services 9%, transportation 6%, other 2%
note:
51% of population of working age (1985)

*Madagascar, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form:
Madagascar
local long form:
Republique de Madagascar
local short form:
Madagascar
former:
Malagasy Republic
Digraph:
MA
Type:
republic
Capital:
Antananarivo
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces - Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina,
Toliary
Independence:
26 June 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
12 September 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Political parties and leaders:
some 30 political parties now exist in Madagascar, the most important of
which are Advance Guard of the Malagasy Revolution (AREMA), Didier
RATSIRAKA; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence (AKFM),
RAKOTOVAO-ANDRIATIANA; Movement for National Unity (VONJY), Dr. Marojama
RAZANABAHINY; Malagasy Christian Democratic Union (UDECMA), Norbert
ANDRIAMORASATA; Militants for the Establishment of a Proletarian Regime
(MFM), Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA; National Movement for the Independence of
Madagascar (MONIMA), Monja JAONA; National Union for the Defense of
Democracy (UNDD), Albert ZAFY
Other political or pressure groups:
National Council of Christian Churches (FFKM), leader NA; Federalist
Movement, leader NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held on 10 February 1993 (next to be held 1998); results - Albert ZAFY
(UNDD), 67%; Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA), 33%
Popular National Assembly:
last held on 28 May 1989 (next to be held May 1993); results - AREMA 88.2%,
MFM 5.1%, AKFM 3.7%, VONJY 2.2%, other 0.8%; seats - (137 total) AREMA 120,
MFM 7, AKFM 5, VONJY 4, MONIMA 1
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Council of Ministers

*Madagascar, Government

Legislative branch:
unicameral Popular National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale Populaire); note -
the National Assembly has suspended its operations during 1992 and early
1993 in preparation for new legislative elect