2023-11-16 04:01:53
Madagascar, where the capital is emerging from a night of curfew, began voting calmly on Thursday for the first round of its presidential election in a context of strong tensions between the camp of the outgoing president, Andry Rajoelina, and ten candidates from the opposition who called for a boycott.
While the outgoing president is betting on his re-election in the first round, one of the main issues of the ballot will be to see whether or not voters favorable to the opposition, among the eleven million registered, decide to stay at home.
Polling stations must remain open until 5 p.m. (2 p.m. GMT) on the large island in the Indian Ocean, whose population of 29 million remains one of the poorest on the planet despite significant natural resources.
In 2018, participation in the first round was less than 55%. Finally elected at the end of this election, Andry Rajoelina, 49, who first came to power in 2009 thanks to a mutiny driving out former president Marc Ravalomanana, is seeking a second term.
Since a recent scandal over his dual French and Malagasy nationality, his eligibility has been contested by the opposition, which denounces maneuvers by those in power to reappoint him.
Ten opponents and candidates, united in a collective bringing together two ex-presidents and former ministers, denounced “an institutional coup d’état” and demanded a suspension of the electoral process.
“We reject Thursday’s election and we call on all Malagasy people to consider that this election does not exist,” candidate Hajo Andrianainarivelo, 56, declared on Tuesday on behalf of the collective.
Since the beginning of October, opponents have increased calls for demonstrations in the capital. These protests, regularly dispersed with tear gas, however, only mobilized a few hundred supporters.
The prefect of Antananarivo condemned “acts of sabotage” on Wednesday following incidents the day before and declared a nighttime curfew until Thursday 4:00 a.m. local (01:00 GMT).
The opposition candidates, who are demanding intervention from the international community, have announced their intention to continue the protest in the coming days.
“Purchased”
“It is irresponsible to encourage voters not to vote,” criticized his campaign spokesperson, Lalatiana Rakotondrazafy, accusing the opposition of wanting to “sabotage” the vote by “an attempt to take hostage of any the nation”.
The political crisis in the country was triggered in June by the revelation in the press of the discreet French naturalization of Andry Rajoelina in 2014.
According to the opposition, he has therefore lost his Malagasy nationality and cannot stand for election. But the courts refused to invalidate his candidacy.
On the eve of the vote, on the Analakely market in the center of the capital, passers-by pause in front of a newsagent’s stall and scan the headlines, looking concerned.
“The people, with the collective of ten candidates, are becoming aware of the dictatorship they are suffering,” says Chrishani Andrianono, 55 years old. Since he has been in power, “we don’t see what he has done for us”, he continues regarding the current president, referring to the state of misery of a large part of the country.
Benedicte Lalaoarison, 61, in front of her underwear stand, has no time to worry regarding politics: “What matters is getting by from day to day.”
Vonjisoa Tovonanahary, 34, says that in his neighborhood, “everyone talks regarding cards to receive money” distributed according to him by pro-Rajoelina.
“We’re buying you,” he blurted with disgust. “I will follow the instructions and I will not vote.”
1700113519
#Madagascar #presidential #election #tension #boycotted #opposition #TV5MONDE
