Pierrot Jocelyn Rajaonarivelo was born on 17 June 1946 and is a Malagasy politician who served in the government of Madagascar as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2011 to 2013.
11 Facts About Pierrot Rajaonarivelo
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Pierrot Rajaonarivelo previously served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1997 to 2002, under President Didier Ratsiraka, and he was National Secretary of the AREMA party at that time.
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Pierrot Rajaonarivelo went into exile when Ratsiraka was ousted in 2002, and he was convicted of abuse of office in absentia.
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Pierrot Rajaonarivelo was seen by many as the main potential challenger to President Marc Ravalomanana in the December 2006 presidential election; however, he was barred from standing.
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Pierrot Rajaonarivelo served as Madagascar's Ambassador to the United States from 20 December 1989 to 1997.
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Pierrot Rajaonarivelo was elected as National Secretary of AREMA on 29 November 1997 at a national congress of the party.
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Pierrot Rajaonarivelo said that AREMA was willing to participate in a planned parliamentary election, as long as the election was free, fair, and transparent, although he proposed that the election be delayed to ensure that it would occur under the proper conditions.
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Pierrot Rajaonarivelo complained that members of AREMA were being harassed, intimidated, and arrested.
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Pierrot Rajaonarivelo faced arrest upon return to Madagascar; he argued that the charges against him were politically motivated.
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In spite of the convictions and sentences, Pierrot Rajaonarivelo sought to run for president in 2006; he officially announced his candidacy on 26 May 2006.
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When he was sworn in as President on 21 March 2009, Rajoelina said that he would pardon political prisoners and exiles; Pierrot Rajaonarivelo then returned to Madagascar on 25 April 2009.