Madagascar’s first-round presidential election, originally set for November 9, has been postponed by a week due to a candidate’s injury during an opposition protest, as declared by the High Constitutional Court on Thursday.
“The High Constitutional Court, using its regulatory authority, orders the first-round presidential election’s postponement to November 16, 2023,” announced the island’s highest court in a decision posted on its website.
The second round of voting on December 20 remains unchanged, but the official electoral campaign, which commenced on Monday, has been extended by one week.
This election, featuring incumbent president Andry Rajoelina as a candidate, has been marred by an increasingly deteriorating political climate for several weeks.
Former president Marc Ravalomanana reported sustaining a leg injury in early October when police and soldiers deployed tear gas to disperse a gathering of his supporters and those backing other candidates challenging the incumbent president.
The opposition claims that the authorities are conspiring to favor Rajoelina. Last month, both the European Union and the United States asserted their close monitoring of election preparations.
Thirteen candidates are competing for the presidency.
The majority of those opposing Mr. Rajoelina at the polls, under an alliance known as the “Collective of Eleven,” have called for almost daily demonstrations since the start of the month.
However, these rallies have been consistently thwarted by the police’s use of tear gas.