Madagascar's High Constitutional Court announces the result of the first round of the presidential election in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Dec. 1, 2023. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua)
Madagascar's High Constitutional Court has confirmed President Andry Rajoelina's victory in the Nov. 16 presidential election.
ANTANANARIVO, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Madagascar's High Constitutional Court (HCC) on Friday confirmed President Andry Rajoelina's victory in the Nov. 16 presidential election.
According to the final results proclaimed by the HCC, Rajoelina secured 58.96 percent of the votes cast, surpassing the required 50 percent threshold for a first-round victory.
"I will be the president of all the Malagasy people," Rajoelina told reporters Friday. He highlighted initial priorities for his new mandate, particularly focusing on "assisting the most disadvantaged and revitalizing industrialization."
He also called on "all those willing to contribute to the country's development" to offer their support.
Several diplomatic representations in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, including the United States and the European Union, issued a joint statement acknowledging the final results published by the HCC.
Andry Rajoelina (C) hears the result of the first round of the presidential election at Madagascar's High Constitutional Court in Antananarivo, Madagascar, Dec. 1, 2023. (Photo by Sitraka Rajaonarison/Xinhua)
Madagascar conducted its first round of the presidential election on Nov. 16, involving 13 candidates vying for the national leadership for the next five years.
Several candidates, including two former presidents, Marc Ravalomanana and Hery Rajaonarimampianina, had called for the election's postponement and urged their supporters to refrain from voting as they argued that Rajoelina should be disqualified from the election because he had obtained French citizenship. Nevertheless, the country's highest court ruled Rajoelina eligible last month. ■
