Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina won the election in the first round. However, most opposition candidates chose not to participate in the vote, as announced by the election commission on Saturday.
Rajoelina got 58.95 percent of the votes in the November 16 election, as reported by the election authority. The voter turnout was a bit over 46 percent, which is lower than the last presidential election in 2018.
Rajoelina, who is 49 years old, first became president in 2009 after a rebellion that removed the previous president, Marc Ravalomanana. After missing one election, he came back and won in 2018.
In this election, there were 11 million voters who could choose between Rajoelina and 12 other candidates. However, ten of Rajoelina’s opponents decided not to campaign and told people not to vote, calling the election a sham.
Rajoelina, a former mayor of the capital Antananarivo, is accused by rivals of being corrupt, greedy, and ignoring the destruction of the country’s natural resources, especially its valuable rosewood forests.
The opposition’s response to Rajoelina’s victory was, “What results? What election?” They refuse to accept the outcome, calling the election illegitimate and full of irregularities. They warn of potential political and social instability and distance themselves from it.
The opposition hasn’t decided if they will officially challenge the result or call for more protests. Before the vote, the opposition, including two former presidents, organized frequent unauthorized protests that were often broken up by police using tear gas.
Madagascar has been in turmoil since reports in June revealed that Rajoelina had obtained French nationality in 2014. According to local law, the president should have lost his Malagasy nationality and, therefore, the right to lead the country, his opponents argue.
The opposition claims there was an “institutional coup” in favor of the incumbent, alleging that the government worked to reinstall Rajoelina. They demand the suspension of the electoral process and international intervention.
Concerns have been raised by eight countries and organizations, including the European Union and the United States, about the “excessive use of force” to break up opposition protests. The opposition points out irregularities like closed polling stations, a shortage of ballot boxes, and Rajoelina’s use of state resources for his campaign.
One of the remaining opponents in the race, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, highlights “worrying anomalies” that he believes cast doubt on the validity of the results. The final results must still be approved by the High Constitutional Court, the country’s highest court, within nine days, allowing for appeals in case of a challenge.(source : France 24)
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