According to news from ANTANANARIVO (Reuters), the president of Madagascar is expected to seek re-election despite ongoing protests from opposition groups calling for a delay in the vote. These groups argue that the president is ineligible to run for re-election. Andry Rajoelina, a 49-year-old entrepreneur and former DJ, came to power in 2009 after a coup and later became president in 2018.
Opposition groups have been protesting regularly for the past six weeks, with police using tear gas to disperse the crowds. They claim that Rajoelina should be disqualified from running due to acquiring French nationality in 2014. The election has reignited old rivalries between Rajoelina and two other former presidents, Marc Ravalomanana and Hery Rajaonarimampianina, who are also running for office, along with ten other candidates.
Ten out of the twelve rival candidates, including Ravalomanana and Rajaonarimampianina, have called for a postponement of the election. They have also demanded changes to the electoral commission and the creation of a special court to resolve vote disputes.
Rajoelina has argued that the constitution does not require the head of state to exclusively hold Malagasy nationality. Despite the opposition’s calls for a delay, Rajoelina urged his supporters at a campaign rally to vote, dismissing the delays as political tactics to destabilize the country.
The head of the constitutional court has appealed for calm and urged the population to resolve their differences through the ballot box. The court has not received any communication requesting a postponement of the presidential vote, and the first round of the election is expected to proceed as scheduled.
However, the United Nations human rights office has criticized the use of “unnecessary and disproportionate force” by Malagasy security forces against peaceful protesters, calling for respect for freedom of expression and assembly. In response, the government has stated that its duty is to maintain order.
Just over 11 million people out of a population of roughly 30 million are registered to vote in the election, which is expected to take place on the island. In the midst of these protests and calls for delays, the future of the election remains uncertain.
(Additional reporting by Ary-Misa Rakotobe; Writing by Giulia Paravicini; Editing by George Obulutsa, Alexander Winning and Andrew Heavens)
