Presidential elections were scheduled to be held in Madagascar on 9 November 2023, with a second round on 20 December if required. On 12 October 2023, it was announced that the election would be postponed by one week to 16 November because of pre-election unrest.
Andry Rajoelina was re-elected to another term with 58.95% of the vote in the first round. Turnout was 46.36%, the lowest in a presidential election in the country's history.
Electoral system
The President of Madagascar is elected using the two-round system; if no candidate receives a majority of the votes in the first round, a run-off will be held.
Candidates
A total of 28 candidates applied to run for the presidency. In the High Constitutional Court decision published on 9 September 2023, only 13 candidates out of 28 were accepted:
They are, by their order on the ballot, decided by sortition:
- Tahina Razafinjoelina
- Hajo Andrianainarivelo
- Andry Rajoelina
- Roland Ratsiraka
- Marc Ravalomanana
- Auguste Richard Paraina
- Andry Tsiverizo Raobelina Andriamalala
- Jean Brunelle Razafintsiandraofa
- Lalaina Harilanto Ratsirahonanana
- Hery Rajaonarimampianina
- Sendrison Daniela Raderanirina
- Jean-Jacques Jedidia Ratsietison
- Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko
Declared but not registered
- Noël Abel Jean
- Heritiana Guy LaChapelle
- James Rasoamaka
- Julia Mickaelle Rasolofonoroniaina
- Marie Josiane Vololonirina
- Monja Roindefo
- Claude Raharivoatra
- Elias Ralaiarimanana
- James Francklin Rakotomahanina
- Eufraime Randrianambinina
- Jean Bruno Betsy Andriamanolo
- Miarintoa Rasolofotinana
- Désiré Nivo Raharovoatra
Withdrew
- Masy Goulamaly
- Annick Ratsiraka
Campaign
During an opposition campaign rally held on 2 October 2023, Marc Ravalomanana, himself a former President and candidate in the election, suffered a leg injury following the use of teargas by the police.
On the same day, candidate Andry Raobelina suffered an injury to the face from a part of an exploded tear gas canister, which prompted him to call for a report of the election to the Haute cour constitutionnelle. The latter decided on 12 October to move the first round from 9 November to 16 November.
Conduct
Prohibition of political rallies in the open
In April 2023, incumbent Rajoelina prohibited all political rallies in the open. This was condemned by representatives of the European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Germany, France, Switzerland, Norway and Japan.
Lack of funding
In a letter to the European Union from May 2023 Rajoelina asked for 30 million euros for assisting in organizing the elections.
Dual nationality of Rajoelina
In June 2023 it was discovered that Rajoelina had acquired French nationality for himself, his wife and their three children in 2014. Under Malagasy law, this may have disqualified him from the presidency, as only citizens of Madagascar are eligible to hold the position, and the country imposes a loss of citizenship if voluntarily acquiring another nationality. Rajoelina argued that he automatically obtained the French nationality through his father and only formalized it, meaning he had not voluntarily switched. The Constitutional Court eventually sided with him, pointing out the lack of a decree officially removing his Malagasy nationality.
Case of Romy Voos Andrianarisoa
On 14 August 2023 the Director of Cabinet of President Andry Rajoelina, Romy Voos Andrianarisoa, was arrested in London under accusations of corruption in a London-based mining company. She was then dismissed by Rajoelina on 16 August. On a rally of the opposition in Antananarivo on November 13, Paraina August, one of the ten protester candidates and former speaker of the lower house of the Malagasy parliament, claimed that London would have emitted a summons letter to one of the running candidates without specifically mentioning a name. This claim was interpreted by the police as a public defamation, spread of fake news, and incitement to hatred. A few hours later, Paraina August was arrested at the international airport of Ivato and detained by the police for a couple of hours before finally being released.
Prohibition of an opposition meeting
On 5 September 2023 a meeting of the candidates of the opposition was prevented by the police.
Opposition boycott
The political opposition largely boycotted the elections.