2013 Malagasy general election

Presidential and parliamentary elections were held in Madagascar on 20 December 2013, following a first round of presidential elections on 25 October. The presidential elections in December were a runoff between Jean Louis Robinson and Hery Rajaonarimampianina, the top two candidates to emerge from the first round of voting in October. The official results of the second round were announced on 7 January 2014 with Rajaonarimampianina proclaimed the victor with nearly 54% of the vote.[1]

2013 Malagasy presidential election

25 October and 20 December 2013
 
Nominee Hery Rajaonarimampianina Jean Louis Robinson
Party Hery Vaovao ho an'i Madagasikara AVANA
Popular vote 2,060,124 1,791,336
Percentage 53.5% 46.5%

President before election

Andry Rajoelina
Independent

Elected President

Hery Rajaonarimampianina

The last elected president, Marc Ravalomanana, was unconstitutionally removed from power by mass protests led by Mayor of Antananarivo Andry Rajoelina in early 2009. Rajoelina dissolved the Senate and National Assembly and took power as the president of the High Transitional Authority (HAT) he created to govern the country in the lead up to elections, which he promised to hold within 18 months. The HAT repeatedly delayed the parliamentary and presidential elections, which were scheduled separately for various dates before finally being merged in May 2011 and postponed to September 2011, May 2012, November 2012, May 2013, July 2013 and August 2013. The 2010 constitutional referendum introduced a new constitution that barred candidates who had not lived in Madagascar for the previous six months, effectively excluding opposition leaders living in exile, including Ravalomanana, who had resided in South Africa since his ouster.

The international community was actively involved in negotiating an end to the political impasse in Madagascar and maintained legitimate and transparent elections as a precondition to international recognition of Madagascar's head of state. In 2012 the African Union demanded that both top candidates - Rajoelina and Ravalomanana - withdraw their candidature. Ravalomanana accepted in December 2012, and Rajoelina followed suit in February 2013. Shortly afterward, Lalao Ravalomanana, wife of the former president, submitted her candidature, causing Rajoelina to add his name to the list of candidates just after the deadline; former president Didier Ratsiraka also submitted his candidature despite having returned from exile in France too recently to meet the six month requirement. This prompted the international community to withdraw funding for the election then scheduled for May 2013, leading to further delays. All three candidates were removed from the approved list by an electoral court in August 2013, and the international community recommitted to providing financial support for the 2013 elections.

Presidential elections

After becoming transitional President in March 2009, Andry Rajoelina announced that, within 24 months, there would be a new constitution and elections.[2] Rajoelina was effectively handed the presidency on 18 March 2009, when the military handed over the executive power that was given to it by President Marc Ravalomanana upon his resignation. Rajoelina, as president of the High Transitional Authority which he had created weeks before Ravalomanana's resignation, announced he would serve as head of state until the next election. He became the youngest head of state in the country's history at 34 years of age.[2]

On 13 May 2009 it was reported that Rajoelina had stated he did not want to run in the presidential election and that he only wanted to lay the groundwork.[3] According to Rajoelina, he was prepared to accept a proposal from United Nations mediators that no former heads of state run in the election, but only if the other former heads of state also accepted the proposal. On 14 May, Ravalomanana ridiculed the proposal and said that "anyone who is legally eligible to run for president should be allowed to do so".[4] On 23 May 2009 an agreement was reached that all former presidents would be allowed to stand in the election.[5]

Rajoelina announced on 12 July 2009 that the election would be held by the end of 2009 to accommodate the demands of international investors, including the EU. This did not take place, however.[6] In May 2010, the elections were set for 26 November 2010 and Rajoelina announced that he would not be a candidate,[7] though he latter suggested that he was still considering running.[8][9]

A constitutional referendum, originally scheduled for September 2009,[10] was held in Madagascar on 17 November 2010, in which voters approved a proposal for the state's fourth Constitution.[11][12] The new constitution contains a clause that requires presidential candidates to have lived in Madagascar for at least six months prior to the elections, effectively barring Ravalomanana, who has been living in exile and faces life in prison upon returning to Madagascar after being convicted in absentia for the deaths of protestors during the coup,[13] from running in the next election.[14] Ravalomanana and Rajoelina engaged in negotiations to allow for Ravalomanana's return to the country, but have failed to come to an agreement.[13]

In April 2012 an amnesty law was passed, but it prevents the return of former president Marc Ravalomanana despite the South African Development Community's attempts at brokering a reconciliation agreement signed by all parties that would allow him to return.[15] In December 2012, Ravalomanana agreed to withdraw his candidacy in compliance with the international community's roadmap to legitimate elections in Madagascar; Rajoelina followed suit two months later. However, when Ravalomanana's wife Lalao submitted her candidacy despite not having met the six-month residency requirement prior to doing so, Rajoelina likewise submitted his candidature after the deadline had officially closed. Former president Didier Ratsiraka also submitted his candidacy, despite also failing to meet the six-month residency requirement. Donors consequently pulled funding for the election, leading it to be postponed twice in 2013.[9] In May 2013, the first round of the presidential elections was scheduled for 23 August 2013[16] alongside Parliamentary elections, with a second round of presidential elections in October if a runoff were needed.[17] In September 2013, the first round of presidential elections was scheduled for 25 October, with a presidential run-off, if necessary, and parliamentary elections to be held on 20 December 2013.[9]

In August 2013, the special electoral court decided to invalidate the candidacy of Rajoelina, Ravalomanana and Ratsiraka, thereby fulfilling a key criteria for legitimacy set forth by the international community.[9] In August 2013, Foreign Minister Pierrot Rajaonarivelo and Finance Minister Hery Rajaonarimampianina resigned in order to run for the presidency.

Thirty-three presidential candidates were approved to appear on the final ballot used in the first round of voting held in October. None of the candidates won more than fifty percent of the vote, requiring a runoff in December to elect a new president. The candidate with the most votes (21.1%), Jean Louis Robinson, was the declared candidate of former president Ravalomanana. The second place candidate (15.93%), Hery Rajaonarimampianina, was named by Rajoelina as his preferred candidate.

In the second round of voting, held on 20 December, Rajaonarimampianina was elected president with 54% of the votes over Robinson won 46% of the vote, mainly in the densely populated central highlands around the capital of Antananarivo. The election was declared peaceful and legitimate by international observers, although both candidates accused the other of fraud. The results were announced by the electoral commission on 7 January 2014; the commission stated that the results would be officially confirmed on 18 February.[18] Robinson conceded defeat in late January, and Rajaonarimampianina was sworn in as president in an inauguration attended by foreign dignitaries, including the French Ambassador and American Attache.

Parliamentary elections

On 19 March 2009, Rajoelina dissolved the National Assembly of Madagascar and the Senate of Madagascar.[19] Parliamentary elections were planned for 2011,[20] after being postponed from 20 March 2010 and then 30 September 2010.[2][21][22] Parliamentary and presidential elections were previously scheduled separately for various dates before finally being merged in May 2011 and postponed to September 2011, May 2012, November 2012, May 2013, July 2013 and August 2013.[16][23][24][15]

Rajoelina announced on 16 December 2009 that parliamentary elections would be held in March 2010.[25] In May, it was announced they would be held on 30 September 2010.[7] On 14 August 2010, they were again postponed to 16 March 2011. Another postponement was announced in January 2011, with no new date specified.[26] Parliamentary elections were held on 20 December 2013. It was the first time parliamentary elections were held concurrently with the presidential election.

Presidential candidates

Thirty-three approved contenders ran in the 2013 presidential election.[4][27][28] In August 2013, the three top candidates were barred from running by a Madagascar legal body charged with election oversight. These included Rajoelina, barred for not submitting his candidacy by the deadline; Lalao Ravalomanana, barred for not having lived in Madagascar for 6 months before the poll; and Didier Ratsiraka, barred for filing paperwork for the candidacy only 2 days after returning from exile.[29] Ravalomanana publicly endorsed medical doctor and politician Jean Louis Robinson from Antananarivo.[30] On 24 September 2013, the official starting date of the campaign, online news magazine Afrik.com identified the top candidates as Jean-Louis Robinson, Hery Rajaonarimampianina (endorsed by Andry Rajoelina), Hajo Andrianainarivelo, Camille Vital, Pierrot Rajaonarivelo and Saraha Georget Rabeharisoa.[31]

Results

President

Jean Louis Robinson and Hery Rajaonarimampianina emerged as the two candidates with the most votes in the first round held in October 2013, receiving 21% and 16% of the vote respectively. Election results for the second round, held in December 2013, were announced on 7 January. Rajaonarimampianina won with 53.5% of the vote while Robinson had 46.5%.

Candidate Party Votes % Votes %
Hery RajaonarimampianinaHery Vaovao ho an'i Madagasikara721,20615.932,060,12453.49
Jean Louis RobinsonAVANA955,53421.101,791,33646.51
Hajo Herivelona AndrianainariveloMalagasy Miara Miainga476,15310.51
Roland RatsirakaMTS407,7329.00
Albert Camille VitalHiaraka Isika310,2536.85
Saraha Georget RabeharisoaGreen Party203,6994.50
Edgard RazafindravahyEdgard Razafindravahy197,0814.35
Pierrot RajaonariveloMDM121,9992.69
Joseph Martin RandriamampiononaRTM (Dadafara)105,1842.32
Benjamin Radavidson AndriamparanyFFF100,8902.23
William RatremaGAM/PATRAM96,7152.14
Jean Eugène VoninahitsyLES AS96,5472.13
Julien RazafinmanazatoESD72,8751.61
Monja Zafitsimivalo RoindefoMONIMA68,5631.51
Brigitte Ihantanirina RabemananantsoaAMP62,6521.38
Willy Sylvain RabetsaroanaPNJ Mazava Sylvain57,8291.28
Clément Zafisolo RavalisaonaAME52,0831.15
Rakoto Andrianirina FetisonRDS49,5991.10
Tabera RandriamanantsoaKINTANA40,2530.89
Laza RazafiarisonAvotra Ho An'ny Firenena39,9520.88
Jean LahinirikoKML39,6480.88
Patrick RajaonaryVonjeo Madagasikara38,9340.86
Rakotomaharo RajemisonMAMAFISOA38,8270.86
Roland Dieudonne RabeharisonFAMA32,1570.71
Djacoba Alain TehindrazanariveloENNA25,9740.57
Faharo RatsimbalsonIndependent24,5360.54
Patrick RaharimananaVitatsika Io19,6840.43
Mickaël Brechard DofoMIM15,5380.34
William NoelsonMITM14,0960.31
Lezava Fleury RabarisonHARENA11,3470.25
Guy RatrimoarivonyHOP10,9130.24
Jean Pierre RakotoRJP9,9650.22
Freddy TinasoaOBAMA9,9710.22
Invalid/blank votes303,277191,786
Total4,831,666100.004,043,246100.00
Registered voters/turnout7,823,30561.767,971,79050.72
Source: CENIT, HCC

National Assembly

Party Votes % Seats
Together with President Andry Rajoelina669,39417.349
Ravalomanana Movement416,73210.820
Vondrona Politika318,1578.213
Parti Hiaraka Isika146,9993.85
Madagascar Green Party136,8893.52
Economic Liberalism107,2242.85
National Unity, Freedom & Development63,1481.62
Pillar of Madagascar40,1691.02
Sambo Fiaran'i Noe13,3740.32
303 Ihany Ny Antsika1,958,07150.61
Action for Humanist Development1
Association Toliara Miaranga1
Bainga1
Fanamby 881
Fanasina Ho Fampandrosoana1
FFF1
Firaisam-Pirenena Ho An Ny Fandrosoana Sy Ny Fahaf1
Fitarikandro1
GFFM1
Harena1
Les AS1
Malagasy Labour Party1
Mampiray Antsika1
Mientana ho an ny Demokrasia et Madagasikara1
Mpirahalahy Mian/Ala1
MTS1
Papasolo1
PSD1
Tambrata1
Tanora Mandray Andraikitra1
Zanak I Dada1
Independents25
Vacant seats4
Invalid/blank votes171,946
Total4,042,706100151
Registered voters/turnout7,956,97150.8
Source: Adam Carr, IPU, HCC

References

  1. "Madagascar Court confirms President-elect". Voice Of America. 17 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  2. "Madagascar president forced out". BBC. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
  3. "Report: Madagascan transitional president not want to be next president". People's Daily Online. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  4. "Ousted Madagascar leader counts on region". Independent Online. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  5. "'Deal' to end Madagascar crisis". BBC News. 23 May 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  6. "Madagascan president agrees to hold earlier presidential election". People's Daily Online. 12 July 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  7. "Madagascar strongman Rajoelina says not to run in November poll". AFP. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  8. "Negotiation Failure between Madagascar's political rivals not to prevent election : Transition President". Xinhuanet. 10 August 2010. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  9. Ilioniania, Alain (22 August 2013). "Madagascar pushes back presidential election to October". Reuters. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  10. "Madagascan President calls international community for recognition". People's Daily Online. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  11. ""YES" leading in Madagascar's referendum on new constitution". People's Daily Online. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  12. "Madagascar parties agree to end political crisis, set election date". People's Daily Online. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
  13. "Madagascar rivals fail to agree on leader's return from exile". ANGOP. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  14. Pourtier, Gregoire (21 November 2010). "Madagascar referendum could deepen political crisis". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  15. "Madagascar passes amnesty law, excludes ousted leader". Agence France-Presse. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  16. "Madagascar: Rajoelina could throw in the towel of the Malagasy presidential race". Indian Ocean Times. 5 August 2013. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
  17. "Madagascar Postpones General Elections". African Elections Project. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  18. "Polls close in landmark Madagascar election". Al Jazeera English. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  19. "Madagascar dissolves parliament: Interim president dissolves national assembly and senate after presidential power grab". Al Jazeera. 19 March 2009. Archived from the original on 30 July 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  20. "Madagascar parties agree to end political crisis, set election date". People's Daily Online. 14 August 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  21. "Madagascar ruler calls March 20 vote". AFP. 16 December 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  22. "Madagascar's Rajoelina pushes elections back to May, RFI says". Business Week. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  23. "Madagascar Sets May 8 to Hold Elections". Africa Elections Project. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  24. "Madagascar : Des élections présidentielle et législatives combinées en septembre 2011" (in French). 3 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  25. "Madagascar leader calls elections". BBC News. 16 December 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  26. "Madagascar's parliamentary election postponed". Monstersandcritics.com. 10 January 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  27. "Madagascar sets date for election, three candidates barred". Deutsche Welle. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  28. "Madagascar Présidentielle: 33 candidats dans la liste définitive au 21.08.2013" (in French). Madagate.com. 21 August 2013.
  29. Polgreen, Lydia (18 August 2013). "Top Presidential Candidates Barred From Election in Madagascar". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  30. "Mouvance Ravalomanana to Support Visionary Presidential Candidate". PR Newswire. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  31. Ankili, Houssam (24 September 2013). "Madagascar : la campagne pour la Présidentielle reprend officiellement" (in French). Afrik.com. Retrieved 20 October 2013.

Official candidate websites

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