[1] After the election, Ravalomanana declared victory and took office as president under controversial circumstances, and Rakotomaharo served as Interim Mayor of Antananarivo in 2002.
[6] Rakotomaharo was subsequently appointed as Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva, and he was accordingly replaced as First Vice-president of the Senate by Noël Rakotondramboa on July 2, 2008.
[9] On March 23, 2009, Rajoelina's High Authority of the Transition revoked the appointment of various ambassadors, but it notably left Rakotomaharo in his post.
[10] Rakotomaharo was subsequently present at the national conference which began on April 2, 2009, and was promoted by Rajoelina's government;[9][10] he was invited to attend by the High Authority of the Transition due to his status as a former President of the Senate, and he said that he was representing only himself.
[11][12] He ostensibly did so in the spirit of the Maputo agreement between Malagasy political leaders, which called for the creation of a national unity government,[12] but the opposition denounced Rajoelina's appointments,[11] and Rakotomaharo was considered to have completely broken with Ravalomanana.