Madagascar’s incumbent President Andry Rajoelina has secured a third term in office, according to provisional results announced by the electoral body, CENI. Rajoelina emerged victorious with 58.9% of the vote, while Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, a lawmaker, came in second with 14.4% of the vote.
However, opposition candidates have declared that they will not accept the election results, citing irregularities and unfair conditions. They have raised concerns about the alleged intimidation of polling officials and the ruling party’s use of public resources. Despite these claims, the ruling party denies any wrongdoing.
Prior to the election, opposition protesters clashed with police, demanding that Rajoelina be disqualified from running. Ten candidates initially requested a postponement of the election, and when their demand was rejected by CENI, they called for a voter boycott. As a result, voter turnout was reported as the lowest in the history of Madagascar, with only 46.4% of eligible voters participating.
Final election results are expected to be announced by the High Constitutional Court within the next nine days. Meanwhile, Rajoelina expressed gratitude to the Malagasy people for choosing the “path of continuity, serenity, and stability” in his victory speech.
This is not Rajoelina’s first time in power. He first came to office in a 2009 coup, stepped down, and was reelected in 2018. His reelection has sparked controversy and dissatisfaction among opposition supporters.
The article was written by Elias Biryabarema and edited by Alexandra Hudson. Stay tuned for updates on the final election results and the reactions from various stakeholders.
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