ANTANANARIVO, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Former president Andry Rajoelina won the first round of Madagascar's presidential election and will face Marc Ravalomanana, another former leader, in a second round vote next month, the High Constitutional Court said on Wednesday. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings and REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photos

Former president Marc Ravalomanana garnered 35.35 percent of the vote in the first round on Nov. 7, behind his successor, Andry Rajoelina, who got 39.23 percent, the High Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday. Rajoelina's succcessor and the country's immediate past president Hery Rajaonarimampianina was eliminated from the race after he came a distant third with just 8.82 percent of the ballots cast in November. Take my hand.”

Madagascar is hoping for its second peaceful election since the upheaval of 2009 when Ravalomanana was toppled by protests led by Rajoelina in what the African Union and other international organizations said was a coup. This is the first time Ravalomanana and Rajoelina are facing off at the ballot, and they both called for a higher voter turnout following Wednesday’s proclamation of results. “For the peace and sovereignty of Madagascar, the TIM (Ravalomanana’s party) have decided to withdraw all their complaints,” Hasina Andrianadisaona, Ravalomanana’s lawyer, told reporters. Following a power struggle and weeks of bloody street protests, the self-made millionaire businessmen was toppled in a military coup and replaced by Rajoelina. We now present to you the profiles of the two candidates who have been flagged off to contest a second round of the presidential poll.
Two former presidents, Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana, advance to the second round, due to be held on December 19. Incumbent president Hery Rajaonarimampianina is eliminated.