1996 Malagasy presidential election explained

Country:Madagascar
Type:presidential
Previous Election:1992–93 Malagasy presidential election
Election Date:3 November 1996 (first round)
Next Election:2001 Malagasy presidential election
Next Year:2001
Image1:Didier Ratsiraka 1997.jpg
Nominee1:Didier Ratsiraka
Party1:Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar
Popular Vote1:1,608,321
Percentage1:50.71%
Nominee2:Albert Zafy
Party2:National Union for Development and Democracy
Popular Vote2:1,563,137
Percentage2:49.29%
President
Before Election:Norbert Ratsirahonana
Before Party:Judged by Your Work Party
Posttitle:President
After Election:Didier Ratsiraka
After Party:Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar

Presidential elections were held in Madagascar on 3 November 1996, with a second round on 29 December 1996.[1] The election followed the impeachment of incumbent President Albert Zafy and the appointment of his interim successor, Norbert Ratsirahonana.

In the first round, former President Didier Ratsiraka took first place with 36.6% of the vote with a turnout of 58.41%.[2] However, as he failed to win more than 50% of the vote, a second round was held, in which Zafy, who had been able to run despite his impeachment, was the sole alternative.[3] LEADER-Fanilo candidate Herizo Razafimahaleo, who took third place with 15.1%, backed Ratsiraka for the second round.[4] Ratsirahonana, the acting President and Prime Minister, who stood as a candidate and received fourth place with 10.1% of the vote,[5] backed Zafy.[3]

In the second round, Ratsiraka achieved a narrow victory. On 6 January 1997, Zafy alleged that vote rigging and irregularities had occurred.[6] Final results confirming Ratsiraka's victory were announced by the High Constitutional Court on 31 January,[7] and he was sworn in on 9 February.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Elections in Madagascar. African Elections Database.
  2. http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/mad1996results.htm Madagascar: 1996 Presidential election results
  3. Philip M. Allen, "Impeachment as Parliamentary Coup d'Etat", in Checking Executive Power: Presidential Impeachment in Comparative Perspective (2003), ed. Jody C. Baumgartner, Naoko Kada, page 91
  4. http://www.herizo.org/spip.php?article24 Leader Fanilo sous la IIIe République
  5. http://democratie.francophonie.org/IMG/pdf/Presidentielles_du_29_decembre_1996.pdf Rapport de la Mission d'Observation de l'Élection Présidentielle du 29 décembre 1996 (2è tour)
  6. "Madagascar: Zafy alleges vote rigging, "irregularities" in presidential final ballot", Malagasy National Radio, Antananarivo, 6 January 1997
  7. "Madagascar: Didier Ratsiraka wins presidential election by small margin", AFP, 31 January 1997
  8. "Ratsiraka sworn in as Madagascar's new president", Television Malagasy (Antananarivo), 9 February 1997