Gabriel Ramanantsoa
Gabriel Ramanantsoa was the President and Prime Minister of Madagascar from 1972 to 1975.
Ramanantsoa was a member of the Merina ethnic group, and came from a wealthy family. He was a career officer in the French army. After Madagascar became independent, he joined the Madagascar military, rising to the rank of Major General. In May 1972, amidst massive political protests, he became prime minister of the country, and President Philibert Tsiranana vested him with full executive powers. Tsiranana resigned altogether on October 11, 1972 following a referendum that approved a five-year transition period under military leadership, and Ramanantsoa became president as well. He tried to start political reconciliation. His government was nearly overthrown in December 1974. On February 5, 1975 he resigned amidst ethnic and social class tensions.
His nephew, Bernard Ramanantsoa, served as Dean of French top business school HEC Paris from 1996 to 2015.
