Madagascar president wins reelection

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Madagascar's incumbent President Andry Rajoelina has won the presidential election by garnering more than 50 percent of the votes, according to preliminary results released on Saturday by the country's election commission.

Rajoelina secured a total of 2,856,090 votes, or 58.95 percent of the votes, the Independent National Electoral Commission said at a news conference.

With more than 50 percent of the votes garnered, the incumbent president won the election during its first round, the commission said.

"I would like to thank the Malagasy people for their political maturity and wisdom", Rajoelina, 49, said after the results were announced. "I think that the Malagasy people have chosen the path of continuity and serenity."

The main opposition party leader Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko and former president Marc Ravalomanana came second and third, winning 14.4 percent and 12.1 percent of the votes, respectively.

"The election was held in a stable environment, with a turnout of 46.36 percent this year, compared with 48.09 percent in the second round of the presidential elections in 2018," the election commission said.

The country's High Constitutional Court is mandated to announce final results within nine days after the poll body declares provisional results.

The Indian Ocean island country initiated its first round of presidential election on Nov 16 to choose the national leader for the next five years from among 13 candidates.

Xinhua - Agencies