# 2018 Malagasy presidential election

Presidential elections were held in Madagascar on 7 November. As no candidate received a majority of the vote, a second round involving the top two candidates, Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana, was held on 19 December. On 27 December Rajoelina was announced as the winner with 56% of the vote.

## Electoral system

The President of Madagascar is elected using the two-round system; if no candidate receives a majority of the vote in the first round, a run-off will be held.

## Candidates

Former President Marc Ravalomanana, who resigned following a political crisis in 2009, announced that he would run again for the presidency. His successor, Andry Rajoelina, also announced his intention to contest the elections. Incumbent Hery Rajaonarimampianina unsuccessfully sought to block Ravaolmanana and Rajoelina from running on grounds that they had participated in the 2009 coup d'état. In September 2018, Rajaonarimampianina stepped down to run for reelection, allowing a caretaker government to administer the vote, in accordance with the constitution.
There were a record 36 candidates in the race (surpassing the previous record of 33), including four of the five most recent presidents. However, only five candidates were women, seen by some of illustrating the historic patriarchal dominance of Malagasy politics and culture.

## Campaign

Despite the majority of Malagasy people living in poverty, the elections are expected to be one of the most expensive per capita in 2018. The top three candidates; Hery Rajaonarimampianina, Andry Rajoelina, and Marc Ravalomanana are at a significant financial advantage over the other contenders, with candidate Ny Rado Rafalimanana complaining that due to financial constraints, it was impossible for any other candidate to compete with the top three, as there are no campaign finance limits. Some election observers believe that the winner of the election will have more to do with that candidate's financial power and influence than their political positions. The lavish spending on the election has also been criticized due to the large amount of poverty in the country, with many believing the money could be better spent elsewhere.
Although two-thirds of the population is under 25, turnout and interest among young people is low.

## Results

| Candidate | Candidate | Party | First round | First round | Second round | Second round |
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % | Votes | % |
| | Andry Rajoelina | Young Malagasies Determined | 1,954,023 | 39.23 | 2,586,938 | 55.66 |
| | Marc Ravalomanana | Tiako i Madagasikara | 1,760,837 | 35.35 | 2,060,847 | 44.34 |
| | Hery Rajaonarimampianina | Hery Vaovao ho an'ny Madagasikara | 439,070 | 8.82 | | |
| | Andre Christian Dieu Donne Mailhol | GFFM | 63,391 | 1.27 | | |
| | Joseph Martin Randriamampionona | Total Refoundation of Madagascar | 57,903 | 1.16 | | |
| | Ny Rado Rafalimanana | FOMBA | 57,476 | 1.15 | | |
| | Andrianiaina Paul Rabary | MIASA | 48,980 | 0.98 | | |
| | Randriamanantsoa Tabera | KINTANA | 48,705 | 0.98 | | |
| | Haingo Andrianjakamalala Rasolofonjoa | Avotra ho an'ny firenena | 47,932 | 0.96 | | |
| | Mamy Richard Radilofe | Roso ho amin'ny Demokrasia Sosialy | 42,748 | 0.86 | | |
| | Eliana Bezaza | Social Democratic Party | 40,882 | 0.82 | | |
| | Jean Ravelonarivo | Antokom-Bahoaka | 29,224 | 0.59 | | |
| | Lalaoarisoa Marcellin Andriantseheno | Tafajiaby | 28,252 | 0.57 | | |
| | José Michel Andrianoelison | ARO-RIAKA | 26,572 | 0.53 | | |
| | Richard Razafy Rakotofiringa | SJIAM | 26,534 | 0.53 | | |
| | Andriamparany Benjamin Radavidson | National Unity, Freedom & Development | 25,420 | 0.51 | | |
| | Saraha Rabeharisoa | Liberal Democratic Party | 23,685 | 0.48 | | |
| | Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana | PARRAINAGE | 23,437 | 0.47 | | |
| | Didier Ratsiraka | Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar | 22,222 | 0.45 | | |
| | Roland Ratsiraka | Malagasy Tonga Saina | 21,377 | 0.43 | | |
| | Serge Jovial Imbeh | Antoky ny Fivoaran'ny Malagasy | 18,962 | 0.38 | | |
| | Zafimahaleo Dit Dama Mahaleo Rasolofondraosolo | Manajary Vahoaka | 16,367 | 0.33 | | |
| | Omer Beriziky | Antsika Madagasikara | 15,352 | 0.31 | | |
| | Jean Jacques Ratsietison | Fahefa-Mividy no Ilain'ny Malagasy | 15,281 | 0.31 | | |
| | Erick Francis Rajaonary | Malagasy Miray sy Mifankatia | 14,758 | 0.30 | | |
| | Rivomanantsoa Orlando Robimanana | Madagsikara Vina sy Fanantenana | 14,561 | 0.29 | | |
| | Fanirisoa Ernaivo | ZAMA–PATRAM | 14,117 | 0.28 | | |
| | Arlette Ramaroson | PARRAINAGE | 12,645 | 0.25 | | |
| | Falimampionona Rasolonjatovo | FITAMBOLAGNELA/IAD | 12,276 | 0.25 | | |
| | Jean Max Rakotomamomjy | LEADER-Fanilo | 11,377 | 0.23 | | |
| | Rolland Jules Etienne | Madagasikara Fivoarana | 10,756 | 0.22 | | |
| | Bruno Rabarihoela | Fahazavan'i Madagasikara | 9,981 | 0.20 | | |
| | Roseline Emma Rasolovoahangy | Ezaka Mampandroso Antsika | 8,578 | 0.17 | | |
| | Jean Louis Zafivao | Gasy Mifankatia | 6,162 | 0.12 | | |
| | Stephan Narison | Antoko Gasy Miara Mandroso | 5,675 | 0.11 | | |
| | Solo Norbert Randriamorasata | Democratic Union of the Christians of Madagascar | 5,086 | 0.10 | | |
| Total | Total | Total | 4,980,604 | 100.00 | 4,647,785 | 100.00 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | Valid votes | 4,980,604 | 92.79 | 4,647,785 | 97.49 |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 386,946 | 7.21 | 119,557 | 2.51 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,367,550 | 100.00 | 4,767,342 | 100.00 |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 9,949,083 | 53.95 | 9,913,599 | 48.09 |
| Source: Constitutional Court (first round, second round) |||||||