Provisional results in Madagascar’s presidential election showed that a second round will be required to decided the winner.
Former presidents Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana are the two candidates set to contest the run-off after winning most votes.
According to provisional results issued on Saturday Rajoelina obtained 39.19 percent of the vote. He was followed closely by Ravalomanana who had 35.29 percent.
The incumbent President Hery Rajaonarimampianina, seeking a second term in office obtained 9 percent of the vote.
In all 36 candidates are contested the presidential election. For any candidate to win the race, that candidate must win more than 50 percent of total votes cast.
Since no candidate secured more than 50 percent of votes, there will be a second round of voting scheduled for December 19.
Turnout was 54.23 percent, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said. A final result will be announced by the constitutional court in nine days time.
Ravalomanana was President from 2002 to 2009 before he was ousted in a military-backed coup. Rajoelina was installed as President and held power until 2014.
Winner of the election will have a major task of dealing with poverty and corruption in the country.
Source: Africafeeds.com
