6 presidential candidates boycott election in Madagascar

The collective condemned the candidacy of former President Andry Rajoelina and announced that they would not be going to the polls. The lower house of the Madagascar Parliament had also proposed postponing the election last week, fearing that the tension between the presidential candidates and Rajoelina would spread throughout the country. Approximately 60 civil society organizations and unions in the country also warned last week that the political crisis could escalate if the election is held.

The spokesperson for President Rajoelina, who resigned from his post to be a candidate, had stated that they were not warm to the request for postponement.

The Constitutional Court of Madagascar had postponed the first round of the presidential election from November 9 to November 16 due to presidential candidate Andry Raobelina being injured in the eye during a protest held against Rajoelina's candidacy. If a sufficient majority is not reached in the first round, the second round of the election will be held on December 20.

''INSTITUTIONAL COUP'' ACCUSATION

The candidacy of Andry Rajoelina, who resigned from his post for the presidential candidacy, had been a subject of debate in the country for some time.

11 candidates, including former presidents Marc Ravalomanana and Hery Rajaonarimampianina, had applied to the Constitutional Court for the cancellation of the candidacy of Rajoelina, whom they accused of staging an "institutional coup," on the grounds that he is a French citizen.

Rajoelina resigned from the presidency on September 10 for his candidacy to be valid and announced that the government led by Prime Minister Christian Ntsay would act as interim for this office.

According to the Constitution of Madagascar, when a president leaves office for various reasons, the president of the Senate is required to act as interim. Opposing the government acting as interim for the presidency on the grounds that it is unconstitutional, the 11 candidates had begun organizing street protests against Rajoelina's candidacy since the beginning of October.