Polling stations in Madagascar have closed their doors, with more than 11 million voters called on Wednesday May 29 to elect their 163 deputies across the island. In Antananarivo, the capital, voters seemed to move in large numbers throughout the day, unlike the last presidential election. But the day is already marked by the opposition which has pointed to fraud, and tensions which have also erupted in polling stations.
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A few minutes before the polling stations closed, an incident broke out in the sandy courtyard of this electoral center in Andavamamba, a lower district of the capital. A fokontany chief, the neighborhood authority, vehemently prohibited an election observer from accessing the polling stations.
The latter, trembling, tells our correspondent in Antananarivo, Pauline Le Troquier having reported an irregularity: “ He is threatening me because I witnessed an irregularity. I was in a polling station and the person in charge of distributing the single ballot indicates box no. 4 to voters each time. It corresponds to that of the candidate of power. »
Outside of Antananarivo, the tension also went up a notch when the opposition, through the voice of its candidates, denounced fraud on social networks, such as reports signed even before the count.
In this other polling station in a lower part of the capital, the day ends at otherwise in a very calm atmosphereassures this deputy head of the fokontany: “ So far, there have been no attempted frauds or signs of a threat of fraud here. There are people there compared to the presidential election. And that’s what we want, that it happens calmly. »
After 5 p.m., offices must close. But voters are still rushing to vote. A few minutes of tolerance, but not for this disappointed voter: “ We arrived at 5:05 p.m. and they refused to let us vote. There are at least forty people like us here. We are really sad because we lost the right to express ourselves. »
In these polling stations alone in the working-class neighborhoods of the city, the participation rate averaged 33% at the end of the day. No national estimate is yet known at this time, the first trends should be announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Céni) from June 4.
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All camps convinced of being able to mark time in the National Assembly
After the end of voting in the legislative elections, the delivery of ballot papers to the voting materials census sections (SRMV) began, for the counting of votes. On the sidelines of the election, the candidates expressed their thoughts on what the future National Assembly could look like.
During this legislative election, the presidential party IMRAR managed to present a candidate in each of the 120 districts of the island to try to win as many seats as possible and maintain the majority in the National Assembly. A strategy to which Augustin Andriamananoro, Minister of Communication, adhered: he resigned a month ago, to compete in Antananarivo, he explains to our correspondent in Antananarivo, Sarah Tétaud.
In his sights, the ex-minister has one objective: “ It is up to the majority to present the name of the person who will assume the role of Prime Minister. Coming from the presidential majority, the challenge is there: we must maintain this majority position in the hemicycle. We are not against cohabitation, but we know what it has led to. »
For the opposition, it was time for revenge, after the boycott established during the presidential election. Rina Randriamasinoro – originally the foal of ex-president Marc Ravalomanana – also ran for the deputy for the very first time, in the capital:
“ If we manage to have a strong opposition in the National Assembly, it will change the future of the country. Because it is the opposition which will vote on the Finance law, which will control the executive and the country’s development policy, which will align the priorities of the country and the needs of the people. It is truly essential for the development of our country. »
Those who ultimately will undoubtedly have a determining role are indeed the candidates elected under the label “ Independent “. The deputy Paul-Bert Rossy Rahasimanana, the free electron of the presidential party, slammed the door of the Oranges to present himself alone, this time.
“ Independent candidates will be in the Assembly. There will be a coalition, inevitably, since to form a parliamentary group, the Independents must come together and respect what they promised people: that they will remain independent and say things as they are, uncompromising », he hopes.
Legislative elections in Madagascar: at the time of counting, the candidates reaffirm their objectives
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