Madagascar begins voting in bid to end poverty, corruption

Record ID: 1363307

  • Title: Madagascar begins voting in bid to end poverty, corruption
  • Date: 7th November 2018
  • Summary: ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR (NOVEMBER 7, 2018) (REUTERS) VOTERS BEING HANDED BALLOTS BY A POLLING OFFICER PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT PAPER VOTER PLACING A BALLOT INTO BALLOT BOX BALLOT BOX VARIOUS OF VOTERS CASTING BALLOTS INSIDE POLLING STATION AS VOTERS CAST BALLOTS VOTERS QUEUING UP TO VOTE OUTSIDE POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Malagasy) VOTER, LAURENT RAKOTOARIVONY, SAYING: "I am grateful for elections as we get to choose and change the leadership to whomever we want to lead." VOTERS AT REGISTRATION DESKS AHEAD OF VOTING (SOUNDBITE) (Malagasy) VOTER, HUGUES MARCELIN, SAYING: "I came to vote early, to carry out my duty as a citizen. I hope it will bring a big change to the country." VARIOUS OF VOTERS IN A QUEUE
  • Embargoed: 21st November 2018 07:23
  • Keywords: President Hery Rajaonarimampianina Madagascar election voting begins Antananarivo Marc Ravalomanana Andry Rajoelina
  • Location: ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR
  • City: ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR
  • Country: Madagascar
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA00195IATZB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Voters in Madagascar queued in long lines early on Wednesday (November 7) to cast their ballots in a presidential election as the Indian Ocean island struggles to create jobs, fight poverty and end corruption.
    Queues started forming as early as 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) in the capital, Antananarivo.
    President Hery Rajaonarimampianina is seeking a second term in office and his two main challengers are former heads of state: Marc Ravalomanana and Andry Rajoelina.
    All three have criss-crossed the island in a hunt for votes and each has pledged to accelerate recovery for an economy the International Monetary Fund forecasts will grow at more than five percent this year, its highest rate in a decade.
    There are nearly 10 million registered voters in the country of 25 million people, data from the electoral commission showed and few analysts expect an outright winner from the 36 total who are contesting. If the poll needs to go to a second round, it will involve only the two top candidates and take place on December 19.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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