How did Madagascar's 2010 constitution restore democratically elected government?

The 2010 constitution did not immediately restore a democratically elected government; rather, it served as a foundational document for the Fourth Republic following a period of political crisis and a 2009 coup.12

Passed by referendum on November 17, 2010, and promulgated in December, the constitution was controversial. It lowered the age requirement for the presidency—making the transitional leader, Andry Rajoelina, eligible for the office—and did not set an end date for his transitional regime, drawing criticism from the international community and opposition groups who boycotted the vote.13

The restoration of a democratically elected government was a protracted process involving further Southern African Development Community (SADC) mediation, the formation of unity governments, and the eventual exclusion of key political rivals from the ballot. Following these efforts, the first democratically elected president under the 2010 constitution was finally inaugurated in January 2014.452