1996 Malagasy presidential election

none April 2026 Madagascar presidential 1992–93 Malagasy presidential election 1992–93 3 November 1996 (first round)29 December 1996 (second round) 2001 Malagasy presidential election 2001 Didier Ratsiraka 1997.jpg Didier Ratsiraka Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar 1,608,321 50.71% President Albert Zafy.jpg Albert Zafy National Union for Development and Democracy 1,563,137 49.29% President Norbert Ratsirahonana Judged by Your Work Party Didier Ratsiraka Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar Presidential elections were held in Madagascar on 3 November 1996, with a second round on 29 December 1996.https://africanelections.tripod.com/mg.html#1996_Presidential_Election Elections in Madagascar African Elections Database 15 November 2011 8 April 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260417043926/https://africanelections.tripod.com/mg.html#1996_Presidential_Election 17 Apr 2026 dead The election followed the impeachment of incumbent President Albert Zafy and the appointment of his interim successor, Norbert Ratsirahonana. Didier Ratsiraka won a narrow victory after a runoff. Background Madagascar became independent from France in 1960, forming the First Republic of Madagascar. After student-led protests in 1972, then-President Philibert Tsiranana turned over control to General Gabriel Ramanantsoa. In 1975, Didier Ratsiraka was named as President, and confirmed by a referendum. This began the Second Republic of Madagascar. Ratsiraka held a tight grip on power until 1991, when protests led by Albert Zafy led to the Panorama Convention, beginning a governmental transition. A 1992 constitutional referendum established the Third Republic, with its first presidential election in 1993.Marcus Richard Political Change in Madagascar: Populist Democracy or Neopatrimonialism by Another Name? – Africa Portal https://africaportal.org/publication/political-change-in-madagascar-populist-democracy-or-neopatrimonialism-by-another-name/ Africa Portal 8 April 2026 1 August 20042 Ratsiraka was unpopular by the time the 1993 election came, in part because he had been recorded ordering the presidential guard to shoot unarmed protestors during the 1991 unrest.Gow Bonar A. Admiral Didier Ratsiraka and the Malagasy Socialist Revolution The Journal of Modern African Studies 1997 35 3 409–439 https://www.jstor.org/stable/161749 9 April 2026 0022-278X435 Zafy defeated Ratsiraka in the 1993 election handily, 67% to 33%.Herbert Ross Madagascar: Avoidable disaster, test case for African diplomacy 1 January 2002 South African Institute for International Affairs https://africaportal.org/publication/madagascar-avoidable-disaster-test-case-for-african-diplomacy/ 9 April 2026 97819198105537 Once in power, Zafy chafed at the constraints the new constitution placed on the president. In 1995, he successfully spearheaded a referendum to amend the constitution to centralize power in the presidency. However, the National Assembly objected to his centralization of power, and in July 1996, they impeached Zafy. The High Constitutional Court ratified the impeachment in September, but Zafy was allowed to run in the election scheduled for November 1996.2-3Malagasy president impeached https://mg.co.za/article/1996-09-20-malagasy-president-impeached/ The Mail & Guardian 9 April 2026 en-ZA 20 September 1996 Candidates Three incumbent or former Presidents ran in this election: Ratsiraka, Zafy, and Norbert Ratsirahonana, who was named acting President after Zafy was impeached.Marcus Richard R. Razafindrakoto Paul Participation and the Poverty of Electoral Democracy in Madagascar Africa Spectrum 2003 38 1 27–48 https://www.jstor.org/stable/40174961 6 April 2026 0002-039729 The fourth candidate with a significant voter base was Herizo Razafimahaleo, the former Minister for Industrial Promotion.3 Election section April 2026 In the first round, former President Didier Ratsiraka took first place with 36.6% of the vote with a turnout of 58.41%.June 2010 Madagascar: 1996 Presidential election results http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/mad1996results.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100902222022/http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/mad1996results.htm 2 Sep 2010 8 Oct 2026 African Democracy Encyclopaedia Project However, as he failed to win more than 50% of the vote, a second round was held, in which Zafy, who had been able to run despite his impeachment, was the sole alternative.Checking executive power: presidential impeachment in comparative perspective 2003 Praeger 978-0-313-05183-8 Baumgartner Jody C. Westport, Conn 91 10.5040/9798216187639 Kada Naoko LEADER-Fanilo candidate Herizo Razafimahaleo, who took third place with 15.1%, backed Ratsiraka for the second round.Mahery http://www.herizo.org/spip.php?article24 https://web.archive.org/web/20071008081430/http://www.herizo.org/spip.php?article24 2007-10-08 2026-10-08 www.herizo.org fr Ratsirahonana, the acting President and Prime Minister, who stood as a candidate and received fourth place with 10.1% of the vote,Rapport de la Mission d'Observation de l'Élection Présidentielle du 29 décembre 1996 (2è tour) http://democratie.francophonie.org/IMG/pdf/Presidentielles_du_29_decembre_1996.pdf live https://web.archive.org/web/20160304022755/http://democratie.francophonie.org/IMG/pdf/Presidentielles_du_29_decembre_1996.pdf 2016-03-04 backed Zafy. In the second round, Ratsiraka achieved a narrow victory. On 6 January 1997, Zafy alleged that vote rigging and irregularities had occurred."Madagascar: Zafy alleges vote rigging, "irregularities" in presidential final ballot", Malagasy National Radio, Antananarivo, 6 January 1997 Final results confirming Ratsiraka's victory were announced by the High Constitutional Court on 31 January,"Madagascar: Didier Ratsiraka wins presidential election by small margin", AFP, 31 January 1997 and he was sworn in on 9 February."Ratsiraka sworn in as Madagascar's new president", Television Malagasy (Antananarivo), 9 February 1997 Zafy conceded defeat in early 1997.Bratton Michael Second Elections in Africa Journal of Democracy July 1998 9 3 51–66 10.1353/jod.1998.0041 https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/16894/summary 10 April 2026 subscription 61 Results Didier Ratsiraka AREMA 1321388 1608321 Albert Zafy National Union for Development and Democracy 844459 1563137 Herizo Razafimahaleo Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery 546211 Norbert Ratsirahonana Judged by Your Work Party 365896 Richard Andriamanjato Party of the Independence Congress of Madagascar - Renewal 178352 Jean Eugène Voninahitsy Independent 100652 Alain Ramaroson Independent 55930 Guy Willy Razanamasy Confederation of Civil Societies for Development 42873 Jérôme Marojama Razanabahiny Independent 32812 Tovonanahary Rabetsitonta Action and Reflection Group for the Development of Madagascar 32518 Philippe Rakotovao Independent 28777 Evariste Vazaha Independent 16071 Albert Andriamanana Independent 15202 Charles Ramanantsoa Independent 15160 Désiré Rakotoarijaona Independent 13488 159834 139444 6453612 6667192 EISA, Nohlen et al.Dieter Nohlen, Michael Krennerich & Bernhard Thibaut (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p544 0-19-829645-2 References Category:Presidential elections in Madagascar Madagascar Presidential Madagascar Madagascar