Madagascar votes in legislative elections

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Voters in Madagascar headed to the polls on Wednesday to elect members of the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament.

Polling stations opened at 6.00 a.m. local time (0300GMT) and closed at 5.00 p.m. (1400GMT) for 11.6 million voters, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

More than 450 candidates are vying for 163 seats in the National Assembly.

The ruling Tanora Malagasy Vonona party is seeking to extend its grip on power.

The party won 84 out of 151 seats in the last election.

Other major parties that have fielded candidates in the election include Groupe Parlementaire Uni pour la République (United Parliamentary Group) and Tiako I Madagasikara (I Love Madagascar).

International observers from the African Union led by Karine Kakasi Siaba as well as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) led by Justice Florence Mumba, former chairperson of Zambia’s electoral commission are among those monitoring the election across 120 districts.

Last November, Andry Rajoelina won a third presidential term in an election marred by a low voter turnout and an opposition boycott.