ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar
Counting is underway in Madagascar after the first round of voting in the country’s highly contested presidential elections which took place on Thursday following weeks of violent protests.
Ten out of the 12 opposition
candidates called for citizens to boycott the vote, saying the conditions for a
fair election had not been met.
In a statement after polling
booths closed, they said the participation rate was the lowest in the country’s
history, at around 20 per cent, citing provisional figures from electoral
observers.
There were reports of queues
at polling stations in areas that support incumbent President Andry Rajoelina,
while there were few voters seen in opposition neighbourhoods.
The opposition grouping had
been pushing for a postponement of the vote, a call supported by civil society
groups.
It also demanded new people be
put in charge of the electoral commission and a special court be set up to hear
vote disputes.
But Rajoelina, who’s expressed
confidence in being re-elected, dismissed this as a political tactic and
brushed off the weeks of protests that have rocked the island.
"I'm confident in the
maturity of Malagasy democracy, and I'm also confident in the choice of the
Malagasy people," he said, after casting his ballot in the capital,
Antananarivo.
A poor turnout is likely to
strengthen the hand of the opposition grouping, which has vowed to continue
protesting until a fair election is held.
Final results are not expected
for at least a week.
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