Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina has resigned after he was officially confirmed as a candidate in the Indian Ocean Island nation's presidential elections scheduled for November 9, according to the country's constitutional court.

Madagascar's constitution requires a sitting head of state, who wants to contest a presidential election, to first resign.

Rajoelina sent his resignation letter to the court on Saturday following confirmation of his candidature in the elections, the High Constitutional Court said in a statement late on Saturday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/madagascar-president-andry-rajoelina-reportedly-survives-assassination-attempt-399658">Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina reportedly survives assassination attempt</a>

The president of the senate is supposed to assume presidential powers when the head of state resigns but the court said the senate head, Herimanana Razafimahefa, had declined to take over.

"For personal reasons, he will not be able to fully exercise the responsibilities that the office of Head of State requires," the court said referring to Razafimahefa.

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Instead, the court said, presidential power would now be exercised by the government collectively with the prime minister as the head.

Also on Saturday, Madagascar's High Court published the official list of presidential candidates. Of the 28 contenders, 13 were selected, including Rajoelina and two former presidents Marc Ravalomanana and Hery Rajaonarimampianina.

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Madagascar is hoping for its third peaceful election since the upheaval of 2009, when Rajoelina ousted President Marc Ravalomananain in a coup, prompting an exodus of foreign investors from the Indian Ocean island. 
 
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Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina has resigned after he was officially confirmed as a candidate in the Indian Ocean Island nation's presidential elections scheduled for November 9, according to the country's constitutional court.

Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina has resigned after he was officially confirmed as a candidate in the Indian Ocean Island nation's presidential elections scheduled for November 9, according to the country's constitutional court. Madagascar's constitution requires a sitting head of state, who wants to contest a presidential election, to first resign. Rajoelina sent his resignation letter to the court on Saturday following confirmation of his candidature in the elections, the High Constitutional Court said in a statement late on Saturday. ALSO READ | Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina reportedly survives assassination attempt The president of the senate is supposed to assume presidential powers when the head of state resigns but the court said the senate head, Herimanana Razafimahefa, had declined to take over. "For personal reasons, he will not be able to fully exercise the responsibilities that the office of Head of State requires," the court said referring to Razafimahefa. ALSO READ | Madagascar FM calls Indo-Pacific a ‘legitimate vision’; bats for peaceful military ties with India Instead, the court said, presidential power would now be exercised by the government collectively with the prime minister as the head. Also on Saturday, Madagascar's High Court published the official list of presidential candidates. Of the 28 contenders, 13 were selected, including Rajoelina and two former presidents Marc Ravalomanana and Hery Rajaonarimampianina. ALSO READ | At least 12 killed, 80 injured in stampede at stadium in Madagascar capital Antananarivo Madagascar is hoping for its third peaceful election since the upheaval of 2009, when Rajoelina ousted President Marc Ravalomananain in a coup, prompting an exodus of foreign investors from the Indian Ocean island. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Madagascar president resigns ahead of polls in November

Former Madagascar president Andry Rajoelina was leading after last week's presidential election aimed at ending a political crisis, ahead of rival Marc Ravalomanana, according to preliminary results released on Sunday.

Rajoelina and Ravalomanana were frontrunners in the November&nbsp;7 vote in the poor Indian Ocean island that has struggled with instability since independence from France in 1960.

After counting from 30.6 per cent of polling stations, Rajoelina was ahead with 40.9 per cent of the votes against 36 per cent for Ravalomanana, the CENI electoral authority said.

Outgoing president Hery Rajaonarimampianina had 7 per cent of ballots, it said. His attempts to change the electoral laws this year backfired, sparking nearly three months of sometimes violent protests in the capital Antananarivo.

The demonstrators forced Rajaonarimampianina to accept a "consensus" government tasked with organising the election in an impoverished country burdened by a long history of coups and unrest.

Madagascar's electoral regulations mean the two frontrunners will be forced into a run-off in December if neither manages to secure more than 50 percent of the votes in the first round ballot.

Both Ravalomanana and Rajaonarimampianina, who governed from 2014 to September 2018, have denounced irregularities and fraud, but the national election commission has rejected the accusations.

The EU observation mission said it noted only minor irregularities that would not impact the election outcome.

Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries, according to World Bank data, with almost four in five people living in grinding poverty.

It has struggled to overcome political divisions after a disputed 2001 election that sparked clashes and after a 2009 military-backed coup.

Former Madagascar president Andry Rajoelina was leading after last week's presidential election aimed at ending a political crisis, ahead of rival Marc Ravalomanana, according to preliminary results released on Sunday.

Former Madagascar president Andry Rajoelina was leading after last week's presidential election aimed at ending a political crisis, ahead of rival Marc Ravalomanana, according to preliminary results released on Sunday. Rajoelina and Ravalomanana were frontrunners in the November 7 vote in the poor Indian Ocean island that has struggled with instability since independence from France in 1960. After counting from 30.6 per cent of polling stations, Rajoelina was ahead with 40.9 per cent of the votes against 36 per cent for Ravalomanana, the CENI electoral authority said. Outgoing president Hery Rajaonarimampianina had 7 per cent of ballots, it said. His attempts to change the electoral laws this year backfired, sparking nearly three months of sometimes violent protests in the capital Antananarivo. The demonstrators forced Rajaonarimampianina to accept a "consensus" government tasked with organising the election in an impoverished country burdened by a long history of coups and unrest. Madagascar's electoral regulations mean the two frontrunners will be forced into a run-off in December if neither manages to secure more than 50 percent of the votes in the first round ballot. Both Ravalomanana and Rajaonarimampianina, who governed from 2014 to September 2018, have denounced irregularities and fraud, but the national election commission has rejected the accusations. The EU observation mission said it noted only minor irregularities that would not impact the election outcome. Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries, according to World Bank data, with almost four in five people living in grinding poverty. It has struggled to overcome political divisions after a disputed 2001 election that sparked clashes and after a 2009 military-backed coup.

Madagascar ex-president Rajoelina leads in vote count: Initial results

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