Madagascan ex-president nominates wife for presidency

Exiled former Madagascan President Marc Ravalomanana has nominated his wife, Lalao, as a candidate for the July presidential election, a statement from his party said Monday.Ravalomanana made the decision Sunday when meeting dozens of his supporters from Madagascar in South Africa, the statement said.The former president's camp said they would boycott the July 24 election if their candidate was banned from participating in the election.Under Madagascar's electoral code, adopted by the transitional parliament in March 2012, any candidate for the presidential election must physically reside on Madagascan territory for at least six months before the final day for submitting applications.Lalao Ravalomanana returned to Madagascar on March 12, 2013, only 48 days before the April 28 deadline for submitting applications.The transitional government accepted Lalao's return after she asked to visit her sick mother in hospital.The Ravalomana family has been in exile since March 2009 when Ravalomana relinquished power to the military, which then transferred the presidency to Andry Rajoelina, Ravalomana's main rival.After being involved in a political crisis during the past four years, both Rajoelina and Ravalomanana decided not to take part in the upcoming presidential election.Rajoelina will nominate Antananarivo Mayor Edgard Razafindravahy as candidate.