Title: Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina Secures Third Term Amid Opposition Boycott
Madagascar’s incumbent President, Andry Rajoelina, has effectively secured a third term in office, as per provisional results announced by the electoral body, the CENI. Rajoelina obtained an overwhelming 58.9% of the vote, while his nearest rival, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, received a mere 14.4%.
The announcement, however, is shrouded in controversy as it comes in the wake of a low voter turnout and a boycott by the opposition. The country’s High Constitutional Court is expected to provide the final results within the next nine days.
Expressing gratitude towards the Malagasy people, President Rajoelina hailed their decision to choose “the path of continuity, serenity, and stability.” He also emphasized the importance of democracy through free and fair elections.
Before the official announcement, Rajoelina’s opponents had already expressed their refusal to accept the results. They cited allegations of irregularities, intimidation, and the ruling party’s alleged misuse of public resources during the election campaign.
Tension escalated in the lead-up to the election, with opposition protesters clashing with the police. They strongly objected to Rajoelina’s candidacy, primarily due to allegations that he had acquired French nationality in 2014.
Furthermore, ten out of the thirteen initial candidates, who were cleared to run, had called for a postponement of the election. They argued for the inclusion of independent officials within the electoral body to ensure the fairness of the process. However, their plea was rejected, leaving only three candidates actively campaigning.
The opposition’s claims received further support from the alarmingly low voter turnout of 46.4%, described as the lowest in the nation’s history. Critics attribute this low turnout to the opposition boycott and citizens’ lack of confidence in the electoral system.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Rajoelina rose to power through controversial means. In 2009, he took control after a coup and subsequently won the presidency in 2018.
As Madagascar awaits the final results from the High Constitutional Court, the country remains divided, with opposition leaders and supporters continuing to voice their discontent. Whether these allegations and concerns will be adequately addressed in the final verdict remains to be seen.
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