Rajaonarimampianina likely president of Madagascar

Antananarivo: With all votes tallied, provisional results show that the candidate supported by Madagascar`s former strongman will likely be the next president.

Results posted on the electoral commission`s website today show Hery Rajaonarimampianina with 53.5 per cent of the vote in the run-off election, with Robinson Jean Louis receiving 46.5 per cent. The commission emphasised the results still need to be finalised. The victor is only likely to be announced after a court rules on alleged voting irregularities. Rajaonarimampianina is the island`s outgoing finance minister and is backed by outgoing leader Andry Rajoelina. Robinson is a former minister of public health and of sports and is supported by former leader Marc Ravalomanana who was ousted by Rajoelina in a 2009 coup. Many hope the election will end international sanctions imposed after the takeover.