Madagascar coup leader’s call for elections lacks key support from former leaders
By APThursday, August 12, 2010
Madagascar: Election call lacks key support
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar — Madagascar’s coup leader is making another attempt at elections, but still lacks key support.
About 100 small parties agreed Wednesday to Andry Rajoelina’s proposal to hold elections early next year. The agreement, to be formally adopted Friday, also calls for a November vote on a new constitution.
But the ousted president and two other former presidents boycotted the negotiations that led to the setting of those dates.
Rajoelina had unilaterally set election dates for this year, but was unable to keep to that schedule because he lacked political support.
Rajoelina, a former disc jockey and mayor of the capital, has been internationally isolated since ousting Marc Ravalomanana in 2009. Rajoelina’s election plan is a bid for legitimacy.
