South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was reelected for a second term on Friday, following a dramatic last-minute coalition deal with a former political rival just hours before the vote.
Ramaphosa, leader of the African National Congress (ANC), triumphed in Parliament, defeating a surprise challenger, Julius Malema of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters. Ramaphosa secured 283 votes against Malema’s 44 in the 400-member house.
The 71-year-old Ramaphosa’s victory was bolstered by support from lawmakers of the country’s second-largest party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), and some smaller parties. This backing was crucial after the ANC lost its long-held majority in a landmark election two weeks prior, which left it with 159 seats in Parliament.
During a marathon parliamentary session, the ANC struck a last-minute agreement with the DA, ensuring Ramaphosa’s continued leadership of Africa’s most industrialized economy. This marks South Africa’s first national coalition government where no party holds a majority in Parliament.
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