According to the national election commission, Andry Rajoelina, the president of Madagascar, has won another term in office after a first round of voting that was largely boycotted by opposition candidates.
According to data provided by the electoral commission, Rajoelina received 58.95% of the votes in the presidential election held on November 16th. However, the constitutional court must still confirm the outcome.
The voter participation rate was slightly above 46%, which was lower than the turnout in the 2018 presidential election. The election commission attributed this decrease to a tense political environment and the manipulation of public opinion in the island country of the Indian Ocean.
After the announcement of the results, Rajoelina stated that the Malagasy people have opted for continuity and stability.
In 2009, Rajoelina gained control of the government following a rebellion that removed Marc Ravalomanana from his position as president. He chose not to participate in the subsequent elections, but ultimately made a successful return to power in 2018.
11 million voters were faced with the decision of choosing between Rajoelina and 12 other candidates. However, ten of the opposing candidates chose not to campaign and encouraged voters to boycott the ballot, claiming it was a sham.
Rajoelina, who previously served as the mayor of Antananarivo, has been accused by opponents of engaging in corrupt activities, being driven by greed, and ignoring the exploitation of the nation’s natural resources, such as the valuable rosewood forests.
The collective opposition asked for clarification on which outcome and which election was being referred to in response to a request for their opinion on Rajoelina’s win.
Opponents stated that they will not accept the outcome of this fraudulent election, which was marred by discrepancies. They also disclaim any accountability for the potential political and social chaos that may follow.
The opposing party has not announced their intention to challenge the outcome and has not requested additional protests.
In the weeks prior to the vote, the opposition, which included two former presidents, organized almost daily protests that were not officially approved and were often broken up by law enforcement using tear gas.
In June, reports from the media caused chaos in Madagascar when it was revealed that Rajoelina had obtained French citizenship in 2014. According to the country’s laws, this would have resulted in the president losing his Madagascan citizenship and, as a result, his opponents argued that he would no longer be able to govern the country.
The opposition candidates expressed their dissatisfaction with what they called an “institutional coup” that supported the current leader. They accused the government of trying to reappoint Rajoelina.
They requested for the halting of the voting process and for foreign involvement.
Eight nations and groups, such as the United States and the European Union, showed worry about the excessive use of violence to break up protests by those opposing the government.
The opposing party has reported discrepancies, such as shutting down voting locations, insufficient ballot boxes, and Rajoelina’s use of government resources for his campaign.
One of the two remaining candidates in the race, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, also addressed “concerning irregularities” that he believes raise “valid doubts about the accuracy of the outcomes”.
On Saturday, Arsene Dama, the leader of the electoral committee, stated that the election was conducted under “fair and open circumstances.”
The opposition has raised concerns about Dama’s fairness.
Source: theguardian.com
