Despite boycott, Madagascar’s President Rajoelina wins second term

Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has been re-elected to a second five-year term, despite an opposition boycott of the election in the south-eastern African island country.

Rajoelina received 58.95 per cent of the vote, the National Electoral Commission announced on Saturday.

Opposition candidates Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko and Marc Ravalomanana followed with 14.4 per cent and 12.1 per cent respectively.

Ten opposition candidates had called on their supporters to stay away from the vote on Nov. 16 – although they were listed on the ballot papers that had already been printed.

According to the electoral commission, there was a voter turnout of just over 46 per cent.

None of the 12 opposition candidates attended the announcement of the election results on Saturday morning in the capital of Antananarivo.

Opposition politicians have accused Rajoelina of trying to hold on to power by illegal means.

The president has been accused of bribing the courts and electoral commission.

Before the election, there were repeated opposition protest marches, some of which were violently broken up by the police.

The United Nations has expressed concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in the country of 25 million inhabitants. (dpa/NAN