Madagascar: 1972 Constitutional referendum

Updated June 2010

The referendum was held on 8 October 1972.

Background

President Philibert Tsiranana, who had led Madagascar to independence in 1960, was forced by popular unrest to hand over executive power on 18 May 1972 to General Gabriel Ramanantsoa who was appointed Prime Minister to head a government of national unity. Ramanantsoa proposed a five year transition period under military leadeship, during which Parliament would be suspended. Tsiranana opposed these measures and resigned as President in protest. Nevertheless, Ramanantsoa's proposals were put to the electorate in a referendum conducted on 8 October 1972.

Voting statistics

Registered voters	3 448 203
Total votes cast	2 906 469
% Turnout	84.29
Valid votes	2 887 902
Invalid votes	18 567
% invalid	0.64

Table sources

Nunley 2007; Thibaut 1999, 540.

Results

Option	Votes	% votes
Yes	2 784 687	96.43
No	103 215	3.57
Total	2 887 902	100.00

Table sources

Nunley 2007; Thibaut 1999, 540.

References

NUNLEY, AC 2007 "Elections in Madagascar" IN African Elections Database, [www] http://africanelections.tripod.com/mg.html [opens new window] (accessed 22 June 2010).

THIBAUT, B 1999 "Madagascar" IN Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (eds) Elections in Africa: A Data Handbook, Oxford Publishers.