Madagascar Presidential Poll: Rajoelina, Ravalomanana Leading

Results of Madagascar’s first round presidential vote on November 7, 2018 contested by 36 candidates show that two of the four former Presidents in the race have taken an early lead, well ahead of 34 others, Radio France International, RFI, reported on November 14, 2018. As at November 13, 2018 evening, and with 63 per cent of votes counted, Andry Rajoelina was keeping a slight lead of 39 per cent over Marc Ravalomanana at 37 per cent.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, CENI, outgoing President Hery Rajaonarimampianina was a distant third at just under 8 per cent of valid votes cast. However, observers were quick to caution that anything can happen between now and November 20, 2018 when the Higher Constitutional Court is expected to release official results. In the event of no outright winner, a round-off election will be held on December 19, 2018. The three top contenders - Andry Rajoelina, Marc Ravalomanana and Hery Rajaonarimampianina - have all picked holes with CENI’s conduct of the vote. Each of them has claimed results different from those released by CENI.

Meanwhile, the European Union observer mission to the election in its preliminary report on November 9, 2018 accused Hery Rajaonarimampianina and Andry Rajoelina of vote buying during campaigning, mentioning the amounts offered by each of them. Rajoelina’s campaign team on November 12, 2018 denied the allegations. The following day, Rajoelina demanded that...