President Peter Mutharika was declared the winner of the May elections with 38 percent of the votes, followed by Lazarus Chakwera, with 35 percent, and former Vice President Saulos Chilima, in third place with 20 percent, but according to the court there were irregularities
Mutharika’s re-election caused fatal clashes and widespread riots.
According to the ruling of a panel of five judges, the vote was manipulated by the president and the electoral commission, although they have denied it for the moment.
Among the 147 complaints received by the electoral commission, some mention the use of whiteout to alter some results.
The two main opposition candidates claimed that these irregularities affected more than 1.4 million of the total 5.1 million votes cast.
The international community, including the United Nations and the African Union, issued several statements urging the people of Malawi to respect the rule of law and remain calm, although it acknowledged the tensions surrounding the ruling.
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