Tsiranana, Philibert

Tsiranana, Philibert fēlēbârˈ tsēränäˈnä [key], 1910–78, president of the Malagasy Republic (now Madagascar; 1960–72). He served in the legislature of Madagascar and represented the island in the French national assembly before becoming (1958) prime minister. When Madagascar gained its independence as the Malagasy Republic (1960), he became the first president and head of state. In 1972 he was forced out of office by Gen. Gabriel Ramanantsoa.

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