2007 Malagasy constitutional referendum

Constitutional referendum 4 April 2007 Madagascar Do you accept this draft revision of the Constitution for rapid and sustainable development by region, in order to improve the standard of living of Malagasy people? 2,378,650 779,092 66,346 7,381,091 A constitutional referendum was held in Madagascar on 4 April 2007."Arrêt n°01-HCC/AR du 27 avril 2007 portant proclamation des résultats officiels du référendum du 4 avril 2007 relatif à la révision de la Constitution.", HCC website fr. The proposed changes, which voters were asked to approve or reject as a whole,http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/mad2007results.htm EISA EISA 2016-09-25 2017-02-24 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080828215517/http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/mad2007results.htm 2008-08-28 included: expansion of presidential powers in cases of emergency abolition of the six autonomous provinces in favor of 22 smaller areas (faritra or regions), a change that is intended to facilitate regional development adoption of English as an official language (in addition to the two existing official languages, French and Malagasy)"Référendum à Madagascar: le oui mène largement (deux-tiers des bureaux)", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), April 6, 2007 fr. removal of the phrase "secular state" (fr état laïque) from the Constitution Early results, with 73.18% of the vote counted, showed that turnout was around 42.43%. The referendum appeared likely to be passed because 74.93% of the voters in Antananarivo were in favour of the amendments, even though it seemed likely that in four of the five other provinces the "no" vote might have won."Initial result shows "Yes" to revision of constitution in Madagascar", Xinhua (People's Daily Online), April 7, 2007. According to results released on 7 April, with votes from 85.47% of polling stations counted, 75.24% were in favor of the proposed changes. Roland Ratsiraka, who placed third in the 2006 presidential election and opposed the proposed changes, alleged fraud."Les Malgaches disent "oui" au renforcement des pouvoirs du président", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), April 7, 2007 fr. Official results were released on 11 April, but it was necessary for the Constitutional High Court to validate the results in order for them to be final,"75,38% de oui au référendum constitutionnel", AFP (Jeuneafrique.com), April 11, 2007 fr. and this happened on 27 April."Validation du OUI au référendum" https://web.archive.org/web/20070927023342/http://www.afriqueouest.info/central.php?o=2&s=419&d=3&i=227 2007-09-27 , Afriqueouest.info, April 27, 2007 fr. The Judged By Your Work Party (AVI) chose to boycott the referendum, saying that it was deceitful for the referendum to describe a "yes" vote as being a vote for national development.Iloniaina Alain, "Référendum constitutionnel; L'Avi choisit le boycott" https://web.archive.org/web/20071022102459/http://www.lexpressmada.com/display.php?p=display 2007-10-22 , L'Express de Madagascar, March 23, 2007 fr. Results 2378650 779092 66346 7381091 HCC References Category:Referendums in Madagascar Category:2007 in Madagascar Madagascar Category:Constitutional referendums in Madagascar Category:April 2007 in Africa Category:Secularism in Africa