The Special Election Court has been studying applications from 49 presidential hopefuls.

The Special Election Court in Madagascar is today, May 3, 2013 expected to produce a shortlist from 49 applicants for next July’s presidential poll, Radio France Internationale, RFI said.

The deadline to submit presidential candidacies at the Special Election Court ended on April 28, 2013. Incumbent President, Andry Rajoelina and his predecessor, Marc Ravalomanana, are not standing in accordance with a deal brokered by the Southern African Development Community, SADC. The first round of the presidential election is scheduled for July 24, 2013 and the second round, coupled with a legislative vote, is set for September 25, 2013.

While the earlier candidates were relatively new to the general public, a few prominent political players from the past later joined the race. Former President Didier Ratsiraka and the wife of former President Marc Ravalomanana, Lalao Ravalomanana, submitted papers. Observers warn that the possible high number of eventual contenders could be an organisational nightmare. However, the eligibility criterion of continuous residence in the country of not less than six months prior to the election could eliminate a number of candidates.

According to Sahondra Rabenarivo, a Malagasy political analyst, the huge number of presidential hopefuls was made possible by the ‘porous’ nature of the country’s electoral law. It provides for independent presidential candidates and for a political party to be formed with just 200 founding members. Without national presence, such a party can present a candidate for presidential polls.  

Also, the use of a common ballot paper for all candidates and the requirement for two people to represent each candidate in a polling station could further aggravate the situation. If 35 contenders, for example, are retained for the election, each polling station will have 70 candidates’ representatives! This is in addition to extra-large campaign billboards and a common ballot paper possibly too long for the average ballot box.