Africa

Africa

Madagascar's Rajoelina lists conditions to withdraw candidacy

25 May 2013 02:40 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Madagascar's president of transition Andry Rajoelina on Friday said he is willing to withdraw his candidacy for the July presidential election if his rivals do the same, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

He told the private TV Plus that he proposed to organize the legislative election on July 24, instead of the presidential election, as a solution to the deadlock in the Indian Ocean island country.

This legislative election will be funded by the state and the elected parliament members will propose a prime minister before the president of transition resigns, he suggested.

If the election calendar remains unchanged, Rajoelina should resign 60 days before July 24, the date of election.

According to the agenda, the first round of the presidential election in Madagascar is set for July 24 and, if necessary, a run- off could be held on Sept. 25.

There are 41 candidates registered to run in the election including Rajoelina, whose candidacy, however, has caused controversy since he earlier promised no part in the race as a way to resolve the crisis.

The proposed elections are expected to take the country out of the crisis, which erupted in late 2008 and led Rajoelina to power with the backing of the military. The takeover was seen as a coup. Under a roadmap brokered by the southern African bloc SADC, the country is to hold the polls to end the crisis.