Malagasy politics have been unstable since the return to electoral politics in 2013, with recent elections featuring an opposition boycott and electoral irregularities. Government corruption and a lack of accountability persist. Defamation and other laws restrict press freedom. Authorities deny permits for demonstrations and have dispersed some that occurred. Lawlessness and poverty are persistent, particularly in the south.

• President Andry Rajoelina’s governing coalition Isika Rehetra Miaraka amin’i (“We Are All with Andry Rajoelina,” or IRMAR) won 84 of 163 seats in the National Assembly during legislative elections in May, which were marred by fraud allegations and irregularities benefitting the bloc. The Firaisankina platform, led by former President Marc Ravalomanana, finished second with just 22 seats, and independent candidates won most of the remainder. Rajoelina reappointed Christian Ntsay, who was not a member of any of the country’s major political groupings, as prime minister in August.
• The Safidy Electoral Observatory, the country’s main election monitor, received numerous of reports of irregularities on polling day, and opposition and independent candidates alleged widespread fraud. In a preliminary statement, the Safidy mission noted irregularities and “worrying incidents;” it further noted the distribution of money and food to voters by candidates.
• In their official reports, both the Safidy Electoral Observatory and a Southern African Development Community (SADC) monitoring mission expressed concerns about exclusionary registration practices by electoral officials, media bias, and improper government activities during the campaign, all benefitting the ruling coalition.
• Independent member of parliament Marie Jeanne d’Arc Masy Goulamaly was arrested two days after the legislative elections and accused of orchestrating unauthorized protests, after submitting an official complaint alleging electoral irregularities. She was held for several days before being released. Rights group Amnesty International called her arrest arbitrary.
• A new labor code was adopted in August. The rules raised the minimum wage, clarified rules on overtime, and contained new provisions to protect workers from arbitrary dismissal and improve workplace safety standards.

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For additional background information, see last year’s full report.