Andry Rajoelina has emerged the winner of Madagascar’s presidential run-off held on December 19, 2018.
The ex-president famous for his life as an events promoter won nearly 56 per cent of the vote to beat another ex-president, Marc Ravalomanana.
Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana. Photo: Wiki CC,
Madagascar’s constitutional court has nine days to declare the final election results, which both candidates said they would accept. However,
Ravalomanana has already denounced the provisional results, calling it a ‘massive fraud’ and asked his supporters to defend their vote.
The second round of the elections was held after neither of the top candidates earned more than 50 per cent of the vote. The incumbent, Hery Rajaonarimampianina, earned 9 per cent in the first round, forcing him out.
Rajoelina became the country’s youngest president in 2009 when he ousted
Ravalomanana in a coup backed by the army. He ruled until 2014 but was
accused of rampant corruption, which coupled with the lack of donor money pushed the island further into poverty.
The 2018 elections in Madagascar made headlines for many things including the amount of money the candidates were spending in one of Africa’s poorest countries.
