On 29 May, Madagascar held legislative elections for 163 members of the National Assembly, the lower chamber of the country’s parliament. According to provisional results released by the electoral commission (Commission électorale nationale indépendante), the incumbent coalition led by President Andry Rajoelina, together with President Andry Rajoelina (Isika rehetra miaraka amin'i Andry Rajoelina, IRMAR), won 80 seats, two short of a majority in the chamber. The main opposition coalition, Firaisankina, won 24 seats, with smaller parties and 52 independents winning the remainder. Eighty of the 473 candidates (17 per cent) who contested the elections are women. Voter turnout was reported to be 48.03 per cent of registered voters. The provisional results still need to be certified by the High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle), which must first rule on the approximately 100 legal challenges that have been lodged by candidates. International observers noted reports of candidate intimidation, exclusionary administrative and political measures and the unlawful closure of radio stations. They concluded, however, that the elections had been calm and peaceful.

Sources: Commission électorale nationale indépendante (1)  Le Monde (1), Le Monde (2), Commission électorale nationale indépendante (2) African Union, Southern African Development Community

On 12 February, the parliament of Madagascar passed a law establishing chemical or surgical castration as punishments for those convicted of raping a child. President Andry Rajoelina referred the law to the High Constitutional Court (Haute Cour Constitutionnelle, HCC) for constitutional review prior to promulgation the following day. The Court ruled on 23 February that the law was in conformity with the constitution, and mandated surgical castration for those convicted of raping a child under the age of 10. In the case of older children, judges are given some discretion regarding sentences. Human rights activists have argued that the new law violates Madagascar’s commitments under several international human rights treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention Against Torture.

Sources: Africa News, Haute Cour Constitutionnelle, Midi Madagasikara, Tribune Madagascar, Le Monde

Madagascar’s presidential election was held on 16 November, resulting in a victory on the first ballot for incumbent President Andry Rajoelina. Ten of the twelve other candidates decided to boycott the election late the process, thus leaving their names on the ballots. Several legal challenges to the provisional results of the election were filed, but these were dismissed by the courts and on 2 December the High Constitutional Court declared Rajoelina the winner. The national election commission (Commission électorale nationale indépendante, CENI) reported turnout to be 46.4 per cent of the registered voters, down from 53.9 per cent in 2018. Rajoelina received 58.9 per cent of the votes, while the two leading opposition candidates, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko and Marc Ravalomanana, received 14.4 and 12.1 per cent, respectively.  There were no female candidates. An observer mission from the African Union noted that the election took place in a fraught political atmosphere ‘characterized by acts of violence,’ following a month of demonstrations, and that turnout was lower among women than men.

Sources: Commission électorale nationale indépendante, African Union, Reuters, Al Jazeera

The High Constitutional Court of Madagascar ruled on 12 October that the first round of the presidential election would be delayed by one week (from 9 November to 16 November). The court did not provide a reason for the delay, but the capital city was the scene of regular clashes between opposition supporters and the police in the weeks before, as unauthorized marches broadly supporting 11 opposition candidates were met with tear gas. Outdoor demonstrations have been banned in Madagascar since April. During one of these incidents, former president (and current presidential candidate) Marc Ravalomanana sustained a minor injury. Incumbent President Andry Rajoelina is running for re-election, and opposition politicians interpret the restriction on demonstrations as favouring his campaign.

Sources: Reuters, Africanews (1), Africanews (2), Deutsche Welle, Jeune Afrique