Andry Rajoelina has secured a third term as Madagascar‘s president, winning in a contentious election that saw the opposition and its supporters boycotting.
His victory with 59% of the vote surpassed the results of his two main competitors, ousted ex-President Marc Ravalomanana and Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko.
With a voter turnout of 46%, the election in the island country is noted as the lowest in its history. The 10 presidential contenders urging a poll boycott played a role in the low voter turnout.
Concerns about the election’s credibility led to the withdrawal of their candidacies, and they denounced President Rajoelina’s third-term bid, questioning the validity of his candidacy given his dual French nationality. Their appeals to annul Mr. Rajoelina’s candidacy were dismissed by the constitutional court. He, in turn, dismissed the accusations as a political tactic.
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Even after their withdrawal, the candidates’ names remained on the ballot, and Mr. Randrianasoloniaiko received 14% of the vote, while Mr. Ravalomanana obtained 12%. Madagascar’s constitutional court has nine days to ratify the results released on Saturday by the electoral body, Ceni.
Having boycotted the election, the opposition collective has made it clear that it does not intend to acknowledge the results of the November 16 poll.
In the lead-up to the election, there were six weeks of demonstrations and clashes with the police, culminating in the imposition of a curfew in Antananarivo on the eve of the poll.
Mr. Rajoelina, a 49-year-old entrepreneur and former DJ, secured a win in the 2018 presidential run-off against Mr. Ravalomanana, with neither candidate reaching the required 50% in the first round.
In a 2009 coup, supported by the army, he ousted Mr. Ravalomanana. The challenging task before him is to generate jobs and enhance the economy in a country where 75% of the population lives below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.
In addition to his responsibilities, he is expected to foster political stability in a country that has been marked by years of political turbulence.