In Madagascar it is time for the counting after the first round of the presidential election. A very unprecedented election, as only three of the 13 candidates demanded the voters’ votes, the other ten asked them to boycott the election. Participation is therefore an important issue in this election desired by outgoing President Andry Rajoelina. However, according to initial observations, it is rather weak.
Published on: November 16, 2023 – 9:25 p.m
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According to preliminary estimates from the Electoral Commission (Ceni), voter turnout is around 37.22%.
This is the first time that the Electoral Commission in Madagascar has managed to set an initial trend on election night. Thanks to the electronic transmission of the protocols photographed at the polling stations. Andry Rajoelinas delegate to the CENI welcomes this. “CENI’s work has improved compared to the previous presidential election as results were collected more quickly. »
However, this lawyer himself admits that the 37.22% participation rate was recorded in only 3% of polling stations and affects less than 0.2% of voters in urban areas. Nicolas Julio Andrianantenaina, the delegate of candidate Siteny Randrianasoloniaik, thinks that we have to wait to draw conclusions. “Compared to results in other regions, it is more or less selective. We are waiting for the results to reach the Céni overall. »
The preliminary results from 80% of the ballot papers should be published by the Ceni on November 24th or 25th and the final results should be announced by the Supreme Constitutional Court in early December, our special correspondent recalls Claire Fages.
The ten-candidate collective opposing outgoing President Andry Rajoelina, notably two former Malagasy presidents, had earlier in the evening announced a turnout “at the lowest level in Madagascar’s electoral history”, namely around 20%, according to reports Figures were provided to them by international observers.
There we can clearly hear a candidate’s supporters expressing their joy. But it is true that this is an election that is special in that the competition is mainly between two or three candidates. So what we can fear is disputes. Will they lead to violent demonstrations? We can’t predict that.
Report: Counting process in a voting center in Antananarivo
Pauline Le Troquier
During an intervention in Parliament on Thursday evening, the President of the National Assembly “acknowledged the election” on behalf of the dialogue and mediation platform she leads. “Every citizen has fulfilled his duty by voting or not according to his possibilities,” explained Christine Razanamahasoa. Let everyone meditate on what we experienced today and question ourselves. » As for the legitimacy of the vote, she believes that “the numbers speak for themselves.” And speak for themselves. »
For its part, the collective of ten opponents and presidential candidates that called for a boycott of the first round of voting declared, as the polls closed, that it “does not recognize these elections” and reiterated that the presidential election on Thursday was organized violently and illegally. “The majority of Malagasy people expressed themselves by staying at home,” former president and member of the collective Hery Rajaonarimanpianina told RFI.
A position that is far from defended by the government. For his part, the interim president of the republic, General Ravalomanana, is convinced that the participation rate cannot be an indicator of legitimacy. “We cannot vote for various reasons: there is no indication that it was a support of the collective. Taking advantage of the participation rate is childish. »
Stella Razanamahefa, spokeswoman for the civil society observatory Safidy, confirmed the first impressions in the afternoon. In a sample of 2,300 polling stations across the country, midday voter turnout was twice as low as the last election. “In 2018 the participation rate was 44%, this year it is 22.4%. »
Abstention is particularly strong in the capital and the center of the country, while the south has mobilized more strongly.
This year there are few people, that is the difference between 2018 and 2023.
Report: A quiet election day with low turnout
Claire Fages
Read also: Madagascar: The problems and expectations surrounding the presidential election