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Madagascar Holds Presidential Election on Thursday Amid Opposition's Boycott

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Madagascar is holding a presidential election on Thursday, with a total of 13 candidates running for office.
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Former Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina, who resigned in September in line with the country's constitution in order to run for reelection, is among the candidates. Hery Rajaonarimampianina and Marc Ravalomanana, both former presidents of the island-nation off Africa's southeastern coast, are also running as candidates.
Initially, the election was scheduled to take place on November 9, but it was postponed until November 16 amid opposition protests in the country.
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10 opposition candidates have accused Rajoelina of creating an environment that favors him in the election and called for the boycott of the vote. Moreover, in recent weeks they have organized street protests almost daily in the capital Antananarivo.
The protests began after Rajoelina resigned to run in elections and, according to the country's constitution, presidential powers were to be transferred to Herimanana Razafimahefa, head of the country's Senate, the upper house of parliament. However, Razafimahefa refused to take the reins and a "collegial government" came to power, led by state Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, who is supposedly an ally of Rajoelina.
The opposition called this move an "institutional coup" in Rajoelina's favor. During one of the protests, police fired tear gas, injuring Rajoelina's face.
The President of Madagascar is elected for a term of 5 years. The current President Andry Rajoelina, a former DJ who first came to power with army support in 2009, is now seeking a third term.