Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has won re-election in the first round of a ballot boycotted by nearly all opposition candidates, the electoral commission announced on Saturday.
Andry Rajoelina, 49, won 58.95 percent of the vote in the first round of balloting on 16 November, it said.
Such a margin of victory would eliminate the need for a runoff election and give him a third term as leader of the Indian Ocean island of 28 million.
#UPDATE Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has won re-election in the first round of a ballot boycotted by nearly all opposition candidates, the electoral commission announced on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/kThsYgDuqD
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) November 25, 2023
The turnout was fairly low after 10 of 12 opposition candidates called for a boycott complaining of an "institutional coup" in favour of the incumbent.
Rajoelina, a former DJ and mayor of the capital, Antananarivo, was president of a post-coup provisional government in 2009-2014.
He was elected president in 2019 and gained a degree of notoriety during the coronavirus pandemic by promoting a herbal drink as a cure for COVID-19.
The lead up to the 16 November election was marked by protests against Rajoelina led by opposition candidates.
Security forces fired tear gas grenades at demonstrators, and two opposition candidates sustained minor injuries.
Some polling stations were torched ahead of the election, which was delayed for a week because of the trouble.
'Worrying anomalies'
"What results? What election?" was the joint opposition response to a request for comment on Rajeolina's victory.
"We will not recognise the results of this illegitimate election, riddled with irregularities, and we decline all responsibility for the political and social instability that could ensue", the opponents warned.
One of the two opponents who formally remained in the race, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, also denounced "worrying anomalies" which he said "raise legitimate questions about the validity of the results".
Le candidat numéro 13, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, s'exprime avant la proclamation des résultats provisoires de la présidentielle par la CENI et souligne des conditions préalables avant d'accepter les résultats. https://t.co/wpFGlTiCOl
— L'Écho du Sud (@lechodusud) November 25, 2023
The opposition has not yet indicated if it will formally contest the result and has not called for more street demonstrations.
In the weeks leading up to the vote, the opposition -- including two former presidents -- led near-daily, largely unauthorised protests that were regularly dispersed by police using tear gas.
Madagascar has been in turmoil since media reports in June revealed Rajoelina had acquired French nationality in 2014.
Under local law, the president should have lost his Madagascan nationality, and with it, the ability to lead the country, his opponents said.
Opposition candidates complained of an "institutional coup" in favour of the incumbent, accusing government of working to reappoint Rajoelina.
They called for the electoral process to be suspended and for the international community to intervene.
Eight countries and organisations including the European Union and the United States expressed concern about the "disproportionate use of force" to disperse opposition demonstrations.
The results still have to be validated by the High Constitutional Court, the country's highest court, within nine days, during which appeals in the event of a challenge can be lodged.
(with newswires)
