AP: 10 out of 12 challengers boycott election:A collective of 10 candidates on Monday said they would not take part, claiming the electoral process is full of flaws. They encouraged people to stay away from polling booths.
They argue that Rajoelina's French citizenship, obtained in 2014, disqualifies him from seeking re-election. Madagascar's High Constitutional Court decided last month that Rajoelina's dual citizenship does not disqualify him, a ruling that provoked enough of a response that the election was delayed by a week from its original date of November 9.
Rajoelina first assumed office after a 2009 coup. He did not run for re-election in 2013, but returned in 2018, defeating Marc Ravalomanana in the second round. Ravalomanana had been running again, but is now among the candidates boycotting this year's election.
Two challengers remain in the presidential race: (1) Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko, mayor of Tuléar, (a city of ~170k in Madagascar's far south), a dissenting member of Rajoelina's own party, president of the African Judo Union, and vice-president of the International Judo Federation (an organization that claimed Vladimir Putin as honorary president until suspending him in 2022); and (2) Sendrison Daniela Raderanirina, a poorly funded "outsider" who works in IT in France.
As of today, Antananarivo is under a 9:00 curfew. Polls for the first round of voting will be open from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm on Thursday.
Other recent articles:
Al Jazeera: Madagascar's polls open on Thursday following weeks of protests over alleged electoral irregularities.France 24: Madagascar faces deadlock after presidential candidates call boycottBrookings: Madagascar's polarizing presidential elections