Weather could disrupt poll

2006-05-10 12:02

Antananarivo - Madagascar said on Wednesday it would hold presidential elections on December 3 after the High Court accepted a proposal by the government to have the polls a few weeks earlier than scheduled.

The election had been set for between December 22 and January 22 next year, but the government said it wished to hold them earlier to avoid disruption due to bad weather.

President Marc Ravalomanana took over the presidency in 2002 after a six-month-old power struggle with his rival Didier Ratsiraka.

"The rainy season can jeopardise the election process," Prime Minister Jacques Sylla wrote in a letter to the High Court explaining the government's position and seeking the court's opinion on whether the change of date would violate the constitution.

- Reuters