Madagascar: 1975 Constitutional referendum
Updated June 2010
The referendum was held on 21 December 1975. Voters were required to endorse or reject a new constitution, the main features of which were (Nunley 2007; Thibaut 1999, 538):
- A presidential republic with a seven year term for the President
- President Didier Ratsiraka was to serve a 7-year term without an election
- A High Revolutionary Council to direct a socialist revolution
- A military committee to oversee socio-economic development
- Only political groupings loyal to the socialist revolution was to be permitted affiliation with it the National Front for the Defense of the Revolution (FNDR, Front National pour la Defense de la Révolution—FNDR), led by Ratsiraka's Vanguard for the Malagasy Revolution (AREMA, Avant Garde de la Révolution Malgache), and only these would be permitted to participate in elections and public life.
Voting statistics
| Registered voters | 3 698 541 |
| Total votes cast | 3 394 115 |
| % Turnout | 91.77 |
| Valid votes | 3 362 014 |
| Invalid votes | 32 101 |
| % invalid | 0.95 |
Table sources
Nunley 2007; Thibaut 1999, 540.
Results
| Votes | % votes | |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 3 213 146 | 95.57 |
| No | 148 868 | 4.43 |
| Total | 3 362 014 | 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.