At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Madagascar

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Didier RATSIRAKA
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Tantley Rene Gabriot ANDRIANARIVO
• Assembly: Madagascar has a unicameral National Assembly with 150 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.
• In the National Assembly 150 members are elected by direct popular vote to serve 4-year terms.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Didier RATSIRAKA
  • Party: Vanguard of the Malagasy Revolution
• Marc RAVALOMANANA
  • Party: Independent Candidate
• Albert ZAFY
  • Party: Action, Truth, Development, and Harmony (AFFA)
• Herzio RAZAFIMAHALEO
  • Party: Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery
• Patrick RAJAONARY
  • Party: Independent Candidate
• Daniel RAJAKOBA
  • Party: Independent Candidate

Note: Originally, the election results indicated that Marc RAVALOMANANA had recevied a plurality but not a majority of votes, which would have led to a second round runoff against Didier RATSIRAKA. The second round was delayed twice and then cancelled. Amid growing instability, the two candidates agreed to a recount of votes. On 22 April 2002, the High Constitutional Court released the results of the recount, with RAVALOMANANA receiving a majority of votes and becoming president-elect.

Last Presidential election:

• Presidential election last held: December 29, 1996. Didier RATSIRAKA won 50.7% of the vote in a runoff, thereby defeating Albert ZAFY who received 49.3% of the vote.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 16,235,767 (2001)
• Registered Voters: 6,367,610 (2001)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 8,152,417 (2001)

·         Is Madagascar a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Madagascar ratified CEDAW: Yes (17 March 1989)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 12 (following the 1998 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 154 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Low (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Madagascar a signatory to CRPD: Yes (25 September 2007)

·         Has Madagascar ratified CRPD: Yes (12 June 2015)

·         Population with a disability: 2,435,365 (est.)