Madagascar Presidential Election: Jean Louis Robinson leads in vote count

Jean Louis Robinson – a former health minister in Madagascar backed by ousted President Marc Ravalomanana took the lead in early vote counting in presidential elections, according to the country’s electoral agency.

As of going to press, Robinson, of the Avana party, has captured 27.8 percent of votes cast, based on the results from about half of the 20,001 polling stations, according to Madagascar’s electoral agency based in the capital, Antananarivo. Finance Minister Hery Rajaonarimampianina has 14.7 percent of support.

Full provisional results are due by November 8 and the leading candidate needs to clear the 50 percent threshold to avoid a runoff. Thirty-three candidates ran in the October 25 election and the turnout of 7.8 million registered voters was 58.4 percent.

The election to replace Andry Rajoelina is the first since he took power in a 2009 coup backed by the military, removing Ravalomanana and plunging the country into an economic crisis.

Madagascar has recorded no growth in the economy in the past four years, it was suspended from the African Union as a result of the coup.

While Rajoelina and Ravalomanana, were barred from competing, they favor candidates who they hope will allow them to run the country from the sidelines.

A second round of voting, if needed, would be held December 20, along with legislative elections. Most candidates made similar promises to help rebuild the economy of the world’s second-largest vanilla grower and improve security conditions.