BBC News - Madagascar to vote in final presidential run-off 20 December 2013 Last updated at 01:28 Madagascar is due to vote in a second round of a presidential election, after October's round failed to produce an outright winner. The two frontrunners are allies of the island's main political rivals - incumbent President Andry Rajoelina and the man he ousted, Marc Ravalomanana. Both were barred from standing. Parliamentary elections will also take place on Friday. The ballots are the first to be held since a military-backed coup in 2009. Foreign election observers described the first round as free, transparent and credible, despite isolated incidents of violence. Economic paralysis Richard Jean-Louis Robinson, a former health minister in Mr Ravalomanana's government, won 21% of the vote in October. His opponent, ruling party candidate Hery Martial Rakotoarimanana Rajaonarimampianina, obtained just over 15%. Both men have made similar pledges to rebuild the island's economy. Friday's poll will also elect 151 lawmakers for a five-year term. The first task of the new MPs will be to nominate a prime minister. The polls are being organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission of the Transition (Cenit) - an independent electoral body funded by the United Nations. Cenit says there are 7,697,382 registered voters and 20,115 polling stations in Madagascar, a country the size of France with a scattered population. Close to 400 international observers are expected to monitor the presidential run-off and legislative elections. Madagascar was plunged into political turmoil in 2009, when Andry Rajoelina overthrew Mr Ravalomanana's democratically-elected government. The country has suffered economic paralysis after international sanctions were imposed following the coup. More than 92% of the country's 21 million people live on less than $2 (£1.2) a day, according to the World Bank.