Title: The re-election of Andry Rajoelina in Madagascar: a look back at a contested election
Introduction :
Re-elected president of Madagascar in the first round, Andry Rajoelina arouses both joy and protests. This election, marked by a falling participation rate, was boycotted by some of the candidates, who consider it illegitimate and marred by irregularities. In this article, we will return to the results of the election, the reactions of the different political actors and the prospects for the political future of Madagascar.
Disputed results:
With 58.95% of the votes, Andry Rajoelina was re-elected for a second term as head of Madagascar. However, several candidates filed appeals, claiming that the electoral process was marred by irregularities. Among them, Siteny Randrianasoloniako, one of the only ones to have participated in the campaign and the vote, filed two requests with the High Constitutional Court to request the annulment of the vote and the disqualification of Andry Rajoelina. According to him, the outgoing president would have bought votes and the Electoral Commission would have manipulated the figures.
A declining participation rate:
One of the notable points of this election is the low participation rate. Only 46% of the 11 million Malagasy people registered on the electoral rolls came to vote. This could be interpreted as a growing disinterest of the population in politics or dissatisfaction with the electoral system in place. Regardless, this figure raises questions about the legitimacy of the re-elected president.
Mixed reactions:
Following the announcement of the results, Andry Rajoelina welcomed the maturity of the Malagasy people and declared that his re-election represented the choice of continuity, serenity and stability. However, a large part of the candidates, who had called for a boycott of the vote, do not recognize these results. They denounce an illegitimate election and request the intervention of the High Constitutional Court to assert their appeals.
Outlook for the future:
The High Constitutional Court will therefore be responsible for processing the appeals filed by the protesting candidates before announcing the final results. Within a maximum period of nine days, it will have to decide on the validity of the vote and on any irregularities which could have tainted the electoral process. Whatever the final decision, this election raises questions about Madagascar’s political stability and the population’s trust in its leaders.
Conclusion :
The re-election of Andry Rajoelina in Madagascar generates both satisfaction and protests. The results of the vote are currently contested by several candidates, who denounce irregularities during the electoral process. The High Constitutional Court will have to decide on these appeals, thus determining the legitimacy of the re-elected president. In any case, this election highlights the political issues facing Madagascar and the challenges that await the country in the years to come.