Madagascar’s Provisional Results say Rajoelina Wins Runoff

Madagascar’s electoral commission announced provisional results
in the runoff presidential election, saying Andry Rajoelina
received more than 55 percent of the vote while Marc Ravalomanana
received more than 44 percent.

Madagascar’s High Constitutional Court has nine days from
Thursday to decide whether to confirm the provisional results.

Just over 48 percent of voters cast their ballots in the Dec. 19
runoff between the candidates, both former heads of state and
bitter rivals. Ravalomanana has denounced what he called “massive
fraud” in the runoff and earlier this week urged supporters to
“defend” their votes.

The two faced off for the first time since political turmoil in
2009 forced Ravalomanana from power.

The EU observer mission said the runoff election was calm. “We
did not see any fraud,” Cristian Preda, head of the observation
mission of the European Union, said last week. “Both accused each
other of fraud, but neither of them had any proof. There are
allegations not facts. We told them to bring this to justice.”

In the first round last month, Rajoelina received 39.23 percent
of the vote compared to Ravalomanana’s 35.35 percent.

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