ANTANANARIVO (AFP) - Madagascar's government on Thursday postponed presidential polls aimed at ending a four-year political deadlock until August 23, after funding problems and the presence of controversial candidates derailed plans for an earlier date.
"A decree has been adopted for a postponement to August 23," Communications Minister Harry Laurent Rahajason told AFP after the cabinet decided on the date, which needs final approval from the election commission and United Nations.
An election court earlier ruled that financial issues and a lack of consensus on the candidates had made the vote slated for July 24 impossible.
The delay gives current strongman Andry Rajoelina time to resign according to election rules.
Meanwhile the election commission has upheld his candidacy, along with those of Lalao Ravalomanana, his rival's wife, and former president Didier Ratsiraka, despite international calls for them to withdraw.
The commission is expected to rubber stamp the new date.
The Indian Ocean island has been in political limbo since Rajoelina, a former disc jockey and ex-mayor of the capital Antananarivo, seized power from then-president Marc Ravalomanana in 2009.
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