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Malawi election: President Mutharika re-elected after court battle | Malawi election: President Mutharika re-elected after court battle |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Malawi's President Peter Mutharika has been narrowly elected to a second term in office with 38.5% of the vote. | Malawi's President Peter Mutharika has been narrowly elected to a second term in office with 38.5% of the vote. |
The 78-year-old incumbent had faced strong competition in the 21 May election, including from his deputy. | |
The result was announced on Monday after an injunction ordered by the country's high court was lifted. | The result was announced on Monday after an injunction ordered by the country's high court was lifted. |
Challenger Lazarus Chakwera, who finished in second place, had sought to delay the results because of concerns over voting irregularities. | Challenger Lazarus Chakwera, who finished in second place, had sought to delay the results because of concerns over voting irregularities. |
The head of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Jane Ansah, appealed for calm ahead of the announcement. | The head of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Jane Ansah, appealed for calm ahead of the announcement. |
What were the results? | What were the results? |
The MEC say President Mutharika, who heads the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), gained a narrow victory by about 159,000 votes. | The MEC say President Mutharika, who heads the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), gained a narrow victory by about 159,000 votes. |
Mr Chakwera, from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), came close behind with about 35.4% of the vote. He had also placed as runner-up five years ago. | Mr Chakwera, from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), came close behind with about 35.4% of the vote. He had also placed as runner-up five years ago. |
President Mutharika's deputy, Saulos Chilima, finished in third place - winning just over 20% of the ballot. He had earlier said his name was initially not on the electoral register when he turned up to vote. | President Mutharika's deputy, Saulos Chilima, finished in third place - winning just over 20% of the ballot. He had earlier said his name was initially not on the electoral register when he turned up to vote. |
With high levels of national poverty, the economy and corruption were key election issues. | With high levels of national poverty, the economy and corruption were key election issues. |
The vote was seen as one of the most unpredictable the country had seen. | The vote was seen as one of the most unpredictable the country had seen. |
Turnout was 74% among the 6.8m residents who were registered to vote. | Turnout was 74% among the 6.8m residents who were registered to vote. |
Malawi has been independent since 1964. This was the sixth presidential election held since single-party rule ended in 1994. | Malawi has been independent since 1964. This was the sixth presidential election held since single-party rule ended in 1994. |
Why was there a challenge? | Why was there a challenge? |
The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) sought a delay of the results over allegations of vote-rigging. | The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) sought a delay of the results over allegations of vote-rigging. |
They wanted recounts in at least 10 of the country's 28 voting districts. | They wanted recounts in at least 10 of the country's 28 voting districts. |
In some cases, there were accusations that ballots had been physically doctored with corrective fluid. | In some cases, there were accusations that ballots had been physically doctored with corrective fluid. |
The injunction was initially granted on Saturday after the MEC received 147 reports of irregularities. | The injunction was initially granted on Saturday after the MEC received 147 reports of irregularities. |
The tampering reports caused some protests in opposition strongholds, Reuters reports. | The tampering reports caused some protests in opposition strongholds, Reuters reports. |
Vice President Chilima also alleged there had been "serious anomalies" during the vote. | Vice President Chilima also alleged there had been "serious anomalies" during the vote. |
Despite concerns, Malawi's high court lifted the injunction on Monday and allowed the results to be released - confirming the president's slim victory. | Despite concerns, Malawi's high court lifted the injunction on Monday and allowed the results to be released - confirming the president's slim victory. |
Who is President Mutharika? | Who is President Mutharika? |
President Mutharika, who has a background as a lawyer and professor, has been the country's leader since 2014. | President Mutharika, who has a background as a lawyer and professor, has been the country's leader since 2014. |
He was educated in the UK and the US - and has been involved in Malawian politics since 2008 when his brother, then president, appointed him as chief legal adviser. | He was educated in the UK and the US - and has been involved in Malawian politics since 2008 when his brother, then president, appointed him as chief legal adviser. |
He was arrested in 2013 alongside other cabinet ministers accused of plotting to overthrow his brother's successor. | He was arrested in 2013 alongside other cabinet ministers accused of plotting to overthrow his brother's successor. |
In the run-up to last week's vote, President Mutharika's age and health had been a focus. Shortly before the election he had to deny a rumour that he had died. | In the run-up to last week's vote, President Mutharika's age and health had been a focus. Shortly before the election he had to deny a rumour that he had died. |
The opposition argued that high-level corruption has got worse under his presidency. | The opposition argued that high-level corruption has got worse under his presidency. |
President Mutharika himself was sucked into an alleged bribery scandal, but denied any wrongdoing and was cleared by the country's anti-corruption watchdog. | President Mutharika himself was sucked into an alleged bribery scandal, but denied any wrongdoing and was cleared by the country's anti-corruption watchdog. |