Madagascar's ruling party loses parliamentary majority

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Madagascar's ruling party lost its parliamentary majority in recently concluded legislative polls, according to results released Wednesday by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

President Andry Rajoelina's Tanora Malagasy Vonona party only managed to win 80 of the 163 seats in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, the results showed.

Independent candidates won 52 seats, while the opposition got 25.

The commission said results from 122 polling stations were not included because fire destroyed voting materials on May 31.

The electoral commission put voter turnout in the May 29 poll at just over 48%, up from 43% recorded in 2019.

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