Antanarivo, Madagascar - Madagascar's election commission says the island nation plans to hold its presidential election next year on May 8.
Election commission president Beatrice Attalah said Wednesday that the country will hold a run-off on July 3, 2013, as well as elections for the National Assembly the same day. Attalah said elections for municipal posts will be held October 23, 2013.
The announcement comes while Madagascar's exiled president Marc Ravalomanana remains unable to return home. Rival Andry Rajoelina
toppled Ravalomanana in 2009 and now leads a unity government charged with preparing for next year's elections.
Ravalomanana and Rajoelina held talks in recent days in the Seychelles about allowing the exiled president to return. However, officials in Madagascar deported Ravalomanana's wife to Thailand when she recently flew into the country with a relative. - Sapa-AP