On Friday, the High Constitutional Court of Madagascar formally granted incumbent President Andry Rajoelina a third term by declaring him as the victor of the presidential election held last month.
The court, after rejecting numerous objections to the electoral body’s provisional figures, declared that Rajoelina received 58.96% of the total votes cast.
The head of the High constitutional court, Florent Rakotoarisoa, said, “Andry Rajoelina is elected as the president of the republic of Madagascar and is taking his functions as soon as the swearing (is conducted).”
The appeal filed by the runner up candidate, lawmaker Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, who received 14.39% of the vote, was among many that were rejected by the court.
Ten of the thirteen candidates who were running boycotted the poll. However, their names already were already on the ballot, which caused them to share the remaining votes. The court then reported that the voter turnout was 46.35%.
The opposition accused Rajoelina of establishing unfair election circumstances, leading to weeks of protests ahead of the Nov. 16 poll.
The army has issued a warning against attempts to destabilize the nation, as Rajoelina has rejected claims that the vote was rigged.
The opposition claims that this year’s voter turnout was the lowest in the nation’s history.
Among the candidates who abstained from the election was Hajo Andrianainarivelo, a former minister who promised to fight against what he saw as an oppressive government and a disregard for the law.
“The popular fight begins now,” he said on Thursday.
The 49-year-old Rajoelina originally took over in a coup in 2009. After serving as the head of a transitional authority in 2014, he resigned in 2018 and was elected president once more.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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