2018 Malagasy presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Madagascar on 7 November. As no candidate received a majority of the vote, a second round involving the top two candidates, Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana, was held on 19 December.[1] On 27 December Rajoelina was announced as the winner with 56% of the vote.[2]

2018 Malagasy presidential election

← 2013 7 November 2018 (first round)
19 December 2018 (second round)
2023 →
Turnout53.95% (first round)
48.09% (second round)
 
Nominee Andry Rajoelina Marc Ravalomanana
Party TGV TIM
Popular vote 2,586,938 2,060,847
Percentage 55.66% 44.34%


President before election

Hery Rajaonarimampianina
HVM

Elected President

Andry Rajoelina
TGV

Electoral system

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The President of Madagascar is elected using the two-round system; if no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the first round, a run-off will be held.[3]

Candidates

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Former President Marc Ravalomanana, who resigned following a political crisis in 2009, announced that he would run again for the presidency.[4] His successor, Andry Rajoelina, also announced his intention to contest the elections.[5] Incumbent Hery Rajaonarimampianina unsuccessfully sought to block Ravaolmanana and Rajoelina from running on grounds that they had participated in the 2009 coup d'état. In September 2018, Rajaonarimampianina stepped down to run for reelection, allowing a caretaker government to administer the vote, in accordance with the constitution.[6]

There were a record 36 candidates in the race (surpassing the previous record of 33), including four of the five most recent presidents.[7] However, only five candidates were women, seen by some of illustrating the historic patriarchal dominance of Malagasy politics and culture.[8]

Campaign

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Poster for incumbent president Hery Rajaonarimampianina in Fianarantsoa in October 2018

Despite the majority of Malagasy people living in poverty, the elections are expected to be one of the most expensive per capita in 2018. The top three candidates; Hery Rajaonarimampianina, Andry Rajoelina, and Marc Ravalomanana are at a significant financial advantage over the other contenders, with candidate Ny Rado Rafalimanana complaining that due to financial constraints, it was impossible for any other candidate to compete with the top three, as there are no campaign finance limits.[9] Some election observers believe that the winner of the election will have more to do with that candidate's financial power and influence than their political positions. The lavish spending on the election has also been criticized due to the large amount of poverty in the country, with many believing the money could be better spent elsewhere.[10]

Although two-thirds of the population is under 25, turnout and interest among young people is low.[11]

Results

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CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Andry RajoelinaYoung Malagasies Determined1,954,02339.232,586,93855.66
Marc RavalomananaTiako i Madagasikara1,760,83735.352,060,84744.34
Hery RajaonarimampianinaHery Vaovao ho an'ny Madagasikara439,0708.82
Andre Christian Dieu Donne MailholGFFM63,3911.27
Joseph Martin RandriamampiononaTotal Refoundation of Madagascar57,9031.16
Ny Rado RafalimananaFOMBA57,4761.15
Andrianiaina Paul RabaryMIASA48,9800.98
Randriamanantsoa TaberaKINTANA48,7050.98
Haingo Andrianjakamalala RasolofonjoaAvotra ho an'ny firenena47,9320.96
Mamy Richard RadilofeRoso ho amin'ny Demokrasia Sosialy42,7480.86
Eliana BezazaSocial Democratic Party40,8820.82
Jean RavelonarivoAntokom-Bahoaka29,2240.59
Lalaoarisoa Marcellin AndriantsehenoTafajiaby28,2520.57
José Michel AndrianoelisonARO-RIAKA26,5720.53
Richard Razafy RakotofiringaSJIAM26,5340.53
Andriamparany Benjamin RadavidsonNational Unity, Freedom & Development25,4200.51
Saraha RabeharisoaLiberal Democratic Party23,6850.48
Olivier Mahafaly SolonandrasanaPARRAINAGE23,4370.47
Didier RatsirakaAssociation for the Rebirth of Madagascar22,2220.45
Roland RatsirakaMalagasy Tonga Saina21,3770.43
Serge Jovial ImbehAntoky ny Fivoaran'ny Malagasy18,9620.38
Zafimahaleo Dit Dama Mahaleo RasolofondraosoloManajary Vahoaka16,3670.33
Omer BerizikyAntsika Madagasikara15,3520.31
Jean Jacques RatsietisonFahefa-Mividy no Ilain'ny Malagasy15,2810.31
Erick Francis RajaonaryMalagasy Miray sy Mifankatia14,7580.30
Rivomanantsoa Orlando RobimananaMadagsikara Vina sy Fanantenana14,5610.29
Fanirisoa ErnaivoZAMA–PATRAM14,1170.28
Arlette RamarosonPARRAINAGE12,6450.25
Falimampionona RasolonjatovoFITAMBOLAGNELA/IAD12,2760.25
Jean Max RakotomamomjyLEADER-Fanilo11,3770.23
Rolland Jules EtienneMadagasikara Fivoarana10,7560.22
Bruno RabarihoelaFahazavan'i Madagasikara9,9810.20
Roseline Emma RasolovoahangyEzaka Mampandroso Antsika8,5780.17
Jean Louis ZafivaoGasy Mifankatia6,1620.12
Stephan NarisonAntoko Gasy Miara Mandroso5,6750.11
Solo Norbert RandriamorasataDemocratic Union of the Christians of Madagascar5,0860.10
Total4,980,604100.004,647,785100.00
Valid votes4,980,60492.794,647,78597.49
Invalid/blank votes386,9467.21119,5572.51
Total votes5,367,550100.004,767,342100.00
Registered voters/turnout9,949,08353.959,913,59948.09
Source: Constitutional Court (first round, second round)

References

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  1. ^ Madagascar: l’élection présidentielle aura lieu le 7 novembre RFI
  2. ^ Madagascar ex-leader Andry Rajoelina wins presidential run-off vote BBC News, 27 December 2018
  3. ^ Madagascar: Election for President IFES
  4. ^ Madagascar: Return of a President Archived 2019-02-10 at the Wayback Machine Al Jazeera, 2 December 2017
  5. ^ Madagascar: élection présidentielle les 24 novembre et 24 décembre 2018 (ministre) Archived 2018-03-04 at the Wayback Machine TV4 Monde, 3 March 2018
  6. ^ Martin R. Rupiya (18 September 2018). "SADC's problem child is going to the polls". Mail and Guardian. Africa. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  7. ^ Peter Mann (18 October 2018). "Democracy and kleptocracy vie for power in epic Madagascan election". Business Day. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  8. ^ Miller, Fahmida (6 November 2018). "Madagascar election: Women struggle for place in politics". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Madagascar Presidential candidates express concern over finance". AFP. Africa News. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  10. ^ Filou, Emilie (2 October 2018). "Madagascar elections: 36 candidates, 4 (ex-)presidents, and a lot of money". African Arguments. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  11. ^ Nsongan, Philemon Mbale (6 November 2018). "Madagascar: timid concerns in politics by youths". Africa News. Retrieved 6 November 2018.