Madagascar: Andry Rajoelina Reelected As President

Ten out of 12 presidential rivals boycotted the ballot complaining of an “institutional coup” in favor of the incumbent. Rajoelina was handed a second time period by the election fee after securing practically 59% of the vote.

Madagascar’s election fee on Saturday introduced the reelection of President Andry Rajoelina following the primary spherical of a poll boycotted by practically all opposition candidates.

The 49-year-old Rajoelina received practically 59% of the vote in the course of the election on November 16, the fee stated.

The second place went to Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, who received 14% of the vote, whereas former President Marc Ravalomanana, who was certainly one of a number of candidates who referred to as for a boycott by voters, got here in third place with 12%.

The end result nonetheless needs to be endorsed by the nation’s constitutional court docket, but when confirmed, it avoids Rajoelina dealing with a second-round election runoff and he can start a 3rd time period.

Reacting to the information, Rajoelina stated voters had “chosen the trail of continuity and stability.”

Madagascar is an island nation that lies off the southeastern coast of Africa.

Who’s Andry Rajoelina?

Rajoelina is a former DJ and mayor of the capital, Antananarivo.

He was beforehand president of a provisional authorities from 2008 to 2014 following a military-backed coup. He received the presidency for a second time throughout elections in 2018.

Through the pandemic, Rajoelina gained a level of notoriety by selling an natural drink as a treatment for COVID-19.

Mandate harm by decrease turnout, boycott by rivals

The legitimacy of his new time period is definite to be questioned as 60% of an 11-million-strong voters didn’t forged their poll within the first-round vote.

Ten of the 12 presidential rivals had referred to as for a boycott complaining of an “institutional coup” in favor of the incumbent.

The rivals advised voters “to contemplate the elections don’t exist” and refused to marketing campaign.

Regardless of their refusal to take part within the vote, their names remained on the poll.

Forward of Saturday’s announcement, Madagascar’s opposition stated they might not acknowledge the outcomes:

“We will not acknowledge the outcomes of this illegitimate election, replete with irregularities, and we decline all accountability for the political and social instability which can end result,” the 11-candidate-strong platform stated in an announcement.

Violence delayed vote by per week

For weeks previous to the election, the collective urged demonstrations nearly day-after-day in Antananarivo. The protests, which drew few folks, had been repeatedly dispersed with tear gasoline.

Some polling stations had been torched forward of the election, which was delayed for per week due to the difficulty.

The collective denounced irregularities in the course of the vote itself together with closed polling stations, lack of poll bins, in addition to Rajoelina’s use of state sources to assist fund his marketing campaign.

mm/wmr (AFP, EFE)