Last modified: 2022-10-22 by bruce berry
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In early days of autonomy the presidential flag was the simple
national tricolour with golden fringe.
Željko Heimer, 20 May 2000
![[Presidential Flag 1959 - obverse]](../images/m/mg-pr59.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 21 May 2002
Some time after the 24-Dec-1959, when the "coat of arms" was adopted, the new flag was devised (that may have been only in 1960 as suggested on FOTW), containing in the middle of the white stripes the golden emblem, above it initials R.M. (for Repoblika Malgasy/Repoublique Malagashe in Malagashe and French) and below the initials of the president, at that time Ph.T. for Philibert Tsiranana.
![[Presidential Flag 1959 - reverse]](../images/m/mg-pr59_.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 21 May 2002
The reverse was the same, but I guess that the letters were readable there too. I assumed the same serifed
font used as in the next flag. This flag was used presumably until 1972.
Željko Heimer, 20 May 2000
image by Željko Heimer, 21 May 2002
The flag of the President of Madagascar showed the arms in gold on the
white stripe. The initials of the country appear above the arms while those
of the president showed below the arms.
Paige Herring, 01 January 1999
In 1972 Gabriel Ramanantsoa took the power, and the flag devised for
him was similar on obverse, only changing the initials to G. R., but now
a new reverse was made - being the national flag with the national motto
consisting of three words in two arcs (two above and one below). The
basic design was retained but with changing the words in the motto and changing
the emblem and initials on the obverse. The motto here was Fahafahana Tanindrazana
/ Fandrosoana said to mean Liberty-Fatherland-Progress.
Željko Heimer, 20 May 2000
image
by Željko Heimer, 21 May 2002
The reverse of the presidential flag had the national motto inscribed
in gold. "Liberty" and "Fatherland" arcs over "Progress."
Paige Herring, 01 January 1999
The presidential flag posted was adopted 1972, when general Gabriel
Ramanantsoa take the power. The reverse side of the flag was new, with the motto,
and the observe followed the similar pattern to the previous one. Before 1972 the reverse
was the same that the observe.
The first president was Philibert Tsiranana. The standard was 1958-59
the national flag with golden fringe in three sides. On 24 Dec 1959 a
new badge was adopted, and later (unknown date) a standard, similar to the observe posted,
but with the initials "Ph T" (same design in observe and reverse) came into use.
It is not know if Richard Ratsimandrava (head of state for some days in February 1975) and Gral. Andriamahazo (in
office between February-June1975) had individual presidential standards, but is
assumed that they did not.
Jaume Ollé, 06 Jan 1999
![[Presidential Flag 1975 - obverse]](../images/m/mg-pr75.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 21 May 2002
Didier Ratsiraka adopted a presidential standard with different emblem, initials (RDM and DR), and motto in reverse, probably after 30-12-1975. The motto was changed to "Tanindrazana, Tolompiavotana, Fahafahana" (Liberty, progress, justice?)
It seems that Richard Ratsimandrava and Gilles Andriamahazo, each ruling for short time in 1975, did not have time to introduce any flags of their own. I do not know what was the legal situation during the changes of these presidents, and what is the legal provision regarding the presidential flag. But there is a prescribed law that the presidential flag contains president's the initials, and does not need a special act to make it valid, it may be that even if the flags were never really made, they existed in theory, with initials R.R. and G.A. However, that may be a bit far fetched.
In 1975 Didier Ratsiraka took power and proclaimed Democratic Republic
of Madagascar (so called Second Republic). The new national emblem was
made, probably only in 1976, that replaced the previous one in the presidential
flag. The initials above were now R.D.M. (Repoblika Demokratika Malagasy)
and D.R. below. The national motto on reverse (shown below) (contained also in the emblem
on obverse) Tanindrazana Tolompiavotana / Fahafahana meaning Fatherland-Revolution-Liberty
(and not "Liberty, progress, justice?" as discussed under the
coat of arms page). This
flag was in use in theory until 12 Sep 1992 when the word "Democratic"
was removed from the country name, but I guess that no new flag was made
for Didier Ratsiraka who was president until 27 Mar 1993.
Jaume Ollé, 06 Jan 1999
![[Presidential Flag 1975 - reverse]](../images/m/mg-pr75_.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 21 May 2002
![[Presidential Flag 1993 - obverse]](../images/m/mg-pr93.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 21 May 2002
In 1993 Albert Zafy was elected president, and presumably the new emblems
were already ready. The new coat of arms - yellow disk containing modernised
rendition of the elements present in 1959 emblem, with new motto and geographical
map of the country in white disk in the middle is now set in the point
where red, green and white meet, much larger then before (my estimate is
the the diameter is now 1/2 of hoist). The initials still in white field
above are again R.M. (now for Repoblikan'i Madagasikara), and below Z.A.
for president Zafy. The fonts that seems to be in use now are sans-serif.
On reverse (shown below) the new motto from the emblem is repeated: Tanindrazana Fahafahana
/ Fahamarinana meaning Fatherland-Liberty-Justice. The flag was in
use until 1996.
Željko Heimer, 20 May 2000
![[Presidential Flag 1993 - reverse]](../images/m/mg-pr93_.gif)
image
by Željko Heimer, 21 May 2002
![[Presidential Flag 1997 - obverse]](../images/m/mg-pr97.gif)
image
by
Željko Heimer, 21 May 2002
In 1997 Didier Ratsiraka was re-elected President, and the new flag now in use
is the same as for Albert Zafy, replacing the initials with D.R. In [pay00],
correction 29, the image of this flag is given without any presidential initials
below, with remark that current initials are DR.
Željko Heimer
So there appear to have been 6 presidential flags in Madagascar: