Madagascar president takes huge lead in early results of low turnout vote

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina emerged as the early frontrunner in his pursuit of re-election, according to preliminary results in a vote marked by low turnout and an opposition boycott, Reuters reported on Friday.

The 49-year-old entrepreneur and former DJ seized power in the island nation following a 2009 coup, then relinquished his role after nearly five years as the head of a transitional authority before winning the 2018 election.

The opposition has contested his candidacy, contending that he should not have been allowed to run in the Thursday’s poll due to his acquisition of French nationality in 2014, which they argue revokes his Malagasy citizenship and creates unfair election conditions.

Rajoelina has dismissed both allegations as unfounded political ploys.

Preliminary results from the electoral commission CENI showed Rajoelina securing over 72.9% of the estimated total of 6.2% counted thus far.

The voter turnout indicated a rate of 39.5% based on the votes tallied, a decrease from the 55% in the corresponding first round of voting in 2018.

Out of a population of roughly 30 million, 11 million people were eligible to vote in this year’s polls, which were preceded by weeks of opposition-led protests.

Of the initial 12 opposition candidates, only two decided to participate in the election. They were Marc Ravalomanana, the former president ousted in 2009, and Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko.

“Enthusiasm was not there,” said Andriamanambe Raoto, editor-in-chief of Politika, a monthly publication.

The United States expressed concerns over the low voter participation, inadequate training for election personnel, and irregularities by party officials.

The opposition stated that the turnout was the lowest in Madagascar’s history and vowed to continue protesting.

Rajoelina contends that the constitution does not mandate the head of state to exclusively hold Malagasy nationality and that any loss of nationality requires government-approved authorization.

The opposition also demanded alterations to the composition of the electoral commission and the establishment of a special court to adjudicate election disputes.

Regional observer groups did not respond to requests for comment on the early results.

Full provisional results are anticipated to be released on Nov. 24, while the High Constitutional Court is slated to certify them on Nov. 30.

(Reporting by Lovasoa Rabary, writing by Giulia Paravicini, editing by Andrew Cawthorne)