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Politics curdle for the Yoghurt King

Antananarivo's young Mayor challenges the business-friendly President

By proclaiming himself the new national leader at a 31 January rally in Antananarivo, the capital's Mayor, Andry Rajoelina, triggered a crisis. 'He's young and he listens to us,' said a demonstrator. Clashes have cost over 100 lives. Rajoelina's nickname is 'Andry TGV', after France's high-speed train. Some predicted that, in a country that sees itself as constitutionally minded, he would rapidly hit the political buffers. President Marc Ravalomanana ridicules Rajoelina's claims: 'We have 1,547 mayors in Madagascar; imagine if they all proclaimed themselves President.'...

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Politics curdle for the Yoghurt King

Antananarivo's young Mayor challenges the business-friendly President

end of free article preview

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