Hery Rajaonarimampianina is expected to be confirmed on January 3, 2014 as winner of last month’s runoff poll.

After four years of a political stalemate that was prompted by the 1999 coup that overthrew President Marc Ravalomanana and propelled former Antananarivo Mayor and disc jockey, Andry Rajaolina to power, the people of Madagascar will today, January 3, 2014, know their next Head of State.

The Independent National Election Commission, CENIT, is expected to confirm Hery Martial Rokotoarimanana Rajaonarimampianina, 56, as winner of the December 20, 2013 second round presidential poll that pitted him against Dr Jean Louis Robinson. The Special Electoral Court, CES, the only institution that has the right to announce final results, has 15 days to rule on complaints against the vote.

Reports said with ballots counted in over 99 per cent of polling stations, Hery Rajaonarimampianina, a former Finance Minister, was leading with 53.51 per cent of votes as against 46.49 per cent for Dr Robinson. The turnout was 50.58 per cent of the 7.9 million voters. Meanwhile, the apparent runner-up, Dr Jean Louis Robinson, says he is going to challenge the results in court, alleging fraud. His campaign team said he has filed nearly 300 complaints with the Special Electoral Court, the Voice of America, VOA reported yesterday, January 2, 2014.

While Rajaonarimampianina is backed by Transitional President Andry Rajaolina, Dr Jean Louis Robinson has the support of Rajaolina’s bitter political rival and exiled former Head of State, Marc Ravalomanana. Hery Rajaonarimampianina is holder of a Masters of Business Administration, MBA degree from Ankatso University, Antananarivo, Madagascar. He later continued accounting training in Canada before serving variously as an accountant and Assistant Lecturer with Antananarivo University and Metz University in France.