• Authorities set September 2027 as the date for Madagascar’s next presidential election under the Refoundation program.

• The roadmap outlines three possible voting models, including direct universal suffrage and two forms of indirect suffrage inspired by French and U.S. systems.

• The transition follows the army’s seizure of power in October 2025 after weeks of protests led by the “Generation Z” movement.

The Presidency of the Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar published the national Refoundation program on Saturday, February 28. The roadmap schedules the presidential election for September 2027.

According to the document, authorities are considering several electoral options. The first option provides for “direct universal suffrage,” organized in two rounds, which would allow citizens to elect the president directly. The second option proposes “French-style indirect universal suffrage.” The third option introduces “U.S.-style indirect universal suffrage,” which would combine territorial elections and the presidential vote held simultaneously.

Authorities are preparing the elections within a broader political transition context. In October 2025, the army seized power after several weeks of demonstrations led by the youth movement “Generation Z.” On October 17, Colonel Michaël Randrianirina took the oath as President of the Refoundation, thereby launching a transition period aimed at reorganizing institutions and restoring constitutional order.

A Four-Phase Refoundation Program

The roadmap establishes a 24-month timetable covering 2026 to 2027 and structures the transition around four phases. Authorities present the document as a legally and politically binding instrument designed to establish a new Republic based on national sovereignty, rule of law, transparency and citizen participation.

The first phase focuses on sovereign national consultations. Authorities will conduct this phase from March 2026 to January 2027. Authorities aim to gather citizens’ aspirations, proposals and resolutions nationwide across all spheres of social life on the foundational themes of institutional reform.

The second phase addresses the overhaul of electoral governance. Authorities will revise the legal and structural framework from June 2026 to May 2027 to guarantee the conditions necessary for organizing a constitutional or referendum vote, as well as a presidential election that complies with internationally recognized legal standards.

Between January and April 2027, authorities will draft the Constitution of the Fifth Republic and present it to the public. The document states that “the draft or drafts of the Constitution are submitted to the approval of the electorate through an electoral or referendum process.”

The final phase covers the organization of elections from May to December 2027. Authorities will prepare and conduct the constitutional referendum or elections, followed by the presidential and territorial elections, depending on the model selected.

Authorities specify that “the implementation deadlines of the roadmap may be revised according to changes imposed by the conduct of national affairs.”

Lydie Mobio