Madagascar's electoral body rules out polls on July 24

The chairperson of Madagascar's National Independent Electoral Commission for the Transition (CENIT) Atallah Beatrice has confirmed that there will be no elections on July 24, 2013. The chairperson of the electoral commission made the confirmation on Monday during a meeting with members of Madagascar's transitional government. She said that technically, organization of the first round of the presidential elections that had been set for July 24 is impossible given the prevailing political situation in Madagascar. She said that the printing of ballot papers that was supposed to be done in South Africa had been suspended and yet providers of similar services in Madagascar can only print a maximum of three million ballot papers within 45 days. "CENIT is also still awaiting for the decree that was passed last week on Thursday by a majority vote in the cabinet, so that it can set a new election date in consultation with the United Nations experts," she said. Recently, the government proposed that elections be held on August 23 but CENIT rejected the government's proposal.