ANTANANARIVO, Nov 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina took a commanding early lead on Friday in his bid for re-election in a vote marked by low turnout and an opposition boycott, preliminary results showed.
The 49-year-old entrepreneur and former DJ rose to power on the Indian Ocean island in a 2009 coup, stepped down after almost five years as leader of a transitional authority, then won a 2018 election.
In preliminary results from the electoral commission CENI, Rajoelina had garnered more than 72.9% of the estimated total of 6.2% counted so far.
There were 11 million people out of a population of roughly 30 million registered to vote in this year’s polls, which were preceded by weeks of opposition-led protests.
Of 12 opposition candidates originally, only two took part in the vote. One was Marc Ravalomanana, the former president ousted in 2009, the other Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko.
The opposition said participation was the lowest in Madagascar’s history and vowed to keep protesting.
Full provisional results are expected on Nov 24 while the High Constitutional Court is due to certify them on Nov 30. — NNN-AGENCIES